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diff --git a/3437-0.txt b/3437-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4bf64a --- /dev/null +++ b/3437-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14905 @@ + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3, by Richard F. Burton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3 + +Author: Richard F. Burton + +Release Date: May 20, 2001 [EBook #3437] +Last updated: December 11, 2022 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS *** +******************************************************************* +THIS EBOOK WAS ONE OF PROJECT GUTENBERG'S EARLY FILES PRODUCED AT A +TIME WHEN PROOFING METHODS AND TOOLS WERE NOT WELL DEVELOPED. THERE +IS AN IMPROVED EDITION OF THIS TITLE WHICH MAY BE VIEWED AS EBOOK +(#52564) at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52564 +******************************************************************* + + + + +This etext was produced by J.C. Byers. Proofreaders were: J.C. Byers, +Norm Wolcott, Dianne Doefler and Charles Wilson. + + + + +THE BOOK OF THE + THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + + + +A Plain and Literal Translation + +of the Arabian Nights Entertainments + + +Translated and Annotated by + Richard F. Burton + + + +VOLUME THREE + + +Privately Printed By The Burton Club + + + + Inscribed to the Memory + + + of + + + A Friend + + + Who + + + During A Friendship of Twenty-Six Years + + + Ever Showed Me The Most + + + Unwearied Kindness, + + + Richard Monckton Milnes + + + Baron Houghton. + + + +Contents of the Third Volume + + + The Tale of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and His Sons Sharrkan and Zau Al-Makan (cont) + aa. Continuation of the Tale of Aziz and Azizah + b. Tale of the Hashish Eater + c. Tale of Hammad the Badawi + 10. The Birds and Beasts and the Carpenter + 11. The Hermits + 12. The Water-Fowl and the Tortoise + 13. The Wolf and the Fox + a. Tale of the Falcon and the Partridge + 14. The Mouse and the Ichneumon + 15. The Cat and the Crow + 16. The Fox and the Crow + a. The Flea and the Mouse + b. The Saker and the Birds + c. The Sparrow and the Eagle + 17. The Hedgehog and the Wood Pigeons + a. The Merchant and the Two Sharpers + 18. The Thief and His Monkey + a. The Foolish Weaver + 19. The Sparrow and the Peacock + 20. Ali Bin Bakkar and Shams Al-Nahar + 21. Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman + + + +The Book Of The + +THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Night +Shahrazad continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Aziz +pursued to Taj al-Muluk: Then I entered the flower garden and made for +the pavilion, where I found the daughter of Dalilah the Wily One, +sitting with head on knee and hand to cheek. Her colour was changed +and her eyes were sunken; but, when she saw me, she exclaimed, "Praised +be Allah for thy safety!" And she was minded to rise but fell down for +joy. I was abashed before her and hung my head; presently, however, I +went up to her and kissed her and asked, "How knewest thou that I +should come to thee this very night?" She answered, "I knew it not! By +Allah, this whole year past I have not tasted the taste of sleep, but +have watched through every night, expecting thee; and such hath been my +case since the day thou wentest out from me and I gave thee the new +suit of clothes, and thou promisedst me to go to the Hammam and to come +back! So I sat awaiting thee that night and a second night and a third +night; but thou camest not till after so great delay, and I ever +expecting thy coming; for this is lovers' way. And now I would have +thee tell me what hath been the cause of thine absence from me the past +year long?" So I told her. And when she knew that I was married, her +colour waxed yellow, and I added, "I have come to thee this night but I +must leave thee before day." Quoth she, "Doth it not suffice her that +she tricked thee into marrying her and kept thee prisoner with her a +whole year, but she must also make thee swear by the oath of divorce, +that thou wilt return to her on the same night before morning, and not +allow thee to divert thyself with thy mother or me, nor suffer thee to +pass one night with either of us, away from her? How then must it be +with one from whom thou hast been absent a full year, and I knew thee +before she did? But Allah have mercy on thy cousin Azizah, for there +befel her what never befel any and she bore what none other ever bore +and she died by thy ill usage; yet 'twas she who protected thee against +me. Indeed, I thought thou didst love me, so I let thee take thine own +way; else had I not suffered thee to go safe in a sound skin, when I +had it in my power to clap thee in jail and even to slay thee." Then +she wept with sore weeping and waxed wroth and shuddered in my face +with skin bristling[FN#1] and looked at me with furious eyes. When I +saw her in this case I was terrified at her and my side muscles +trembled and quivered, for she was like a dreadful she Ghul, an ogress +in ire, and I like a bean over the fire. Then said she, "Thou art of no +use to me, now thou art married and hast a child; nor art thou any +longer fit for my company; I care only for bachelors and not for +married men:[FN#2] these profit us nothing Thou hast sold me for yonder +stinking armful; but, by Allah, I will make the whore's heart ache for +thee, and thou shalt not live either for me or for her!" Then she cried +a loud cry and, ere I could think, up came the slave girls and threw me +on the ground; and when I was helpless under their hands she rose and, +taking a knife, said, "I will cut thy throat as they slaughter he +goats; and that will be less than thy desert, for thy doings to me and +the daughter of thy uncle before me." When I looked to my life and +found myself at the mercy of her slave women, with my cheeks dust +soiled, and saw her sharpen the knife, I made sure of death.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +thus continued his tale to Zau al-Makan: Then quoth the youth Aziz to +Taj al-Muluk, Now when I found my life at the mercy of her slave women +with my cheeks dust soiled, and I saw her sharpen the knife, I made +sure of death and cried out to her for mercy. But she only redoubled +in ferocity and ordered the slave girls to pinion my hands behind me, +which they did; and, throwing me on my back, she seated herself on my +middle and held down my head. Then two of them came up and squatted on +my shin bones, whilst other two grasped my hands and arms; and she +summoned a third pair and bade them beat me. So they beat me till I +fainted and my voice failed. When I revived, I said to myself, " +'Twere easier and better for me to have my gullet slit than to be +beaten on this wise!" And I remembered the words of my cousin, and how +she used to say to me, "Allah, keep thee from her mischief!"; and I +shrieked and wept till my voice failed and I remained without power to +breathe or to move. Then she again whetted the knife and said to the +slave girls, "Uncover him." Upon this the Lord inspired me to repeat to +her the two phrases my cousin had taught me, and had bequeathed to me, +and I said, "O my lady, dost thou not know that Faith is fair, Unfaith +is foul?" When she heard this, she cried out and said, "Allah pity +thee, Azizah, and give thee Paradise in exchange for thy wasted youth! +By Allah, of a truth she served thee in her life time and after her +death, and now she hath saved thee alive out of my hands with these two +saws. Nevertheless, I cannot by any means leave thee thus, but needs +must I set my mark on thee, to spite yonder brazen faced piece, who +hath kept thee from me." There upon she called out to the slave women +and bade them bind my feet with cords and then said to them, "Take seat +on him!" They did her bidding, upon which she arose and fetched a pan +of copper and hung it over the brazier and poured into it oil of +sesame, in which she fried cheese.[FN#3] Then she came up to me (and I +still insensible) and, unfastening my bag trousers, tied a cord round +my testicles and, giving it to two of her women, bade them trawl at it. + They did so, and I swooned away and was for excess of pain in a world +other than this. Then she came with a razor of steel and cut off my +member masculine,[FN#4] so that I remained like a woman: after which +she seared the wound with the boiling and rubbed it with a powder, and +I the while unconscious. Now when I came to myself, the blood had +stopped; so she bade the slave girls unbind me and made me drink a cup +of wine. Then said she to me, "Go now to her whom thou hast married and +who grudged me a single night, and the mercy of Allah be on thy cousin +Azizah, who saved thy life and never told her secret love! Indeed, +haddest thou not repeated those words to me, I had surely slit thy +weasand. Go forth this instant to whom thou wilt, for I needed naught +of thee save what I have just cut off; and now I have no part in thee, +nor have I any further want of thee or care for thee. So begone about +thy business and rub thy head[FN#5] and implore mercy for the daughter +of thine uncle!" Thereupon she kicked me with her foot and I rose, +hardly able to walk; and I went, little by little, till I came to the +door of our house. I saw it was open, so I threw myself within it and +fell down in a fainting fit; whereupon my wife came out and lifting me +up, carried me into the saloon and assured herself that I had become +like a woman. Then I fell into a sleep and a deep sleep; and when I +awoke, I found myself thrown down at the garden gate,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +pursued to King Zau al-Makan, The youth Aziz thus continued his story +to Taj al-Muluk: When I awoke and found myself thrown down at the +garden gate, I rose, groaning for pain and misery, and made my way to +our home and entering, I came upon my mother weeping for me, and +saying, "Would I knew, O my son, in what land art thou?" So I drew near +and threw myself upon her, and when she looked at me and felt me, she +knew that I was ill; for my face was coloured black and tan. Then I +thought of my cousin and all the kind offices she had been wont to do +me, and I learned when too late that she had truly loved me; so I wept +for her and my mother wept also Presently she said to me, "O my son, +thy sire is dead." At this my fury against Fate redoubled, and I cried +till I fell into a fit. When I came to myself, I looked at the place +where my cousin Azizah had been used to sit and shed tears anew, till I +all but fainted once more for excess of weeping; and I ceased not to +cry and sob and wail till midnight, when my mother said to me, "Thy +father hath been dead these ten days." "I shall never think of any one +but my cousin Azizah," replied I; "and indeed I deserve all that hath +befallen me, for that I neglected her who loved me with love so dear." +Asked she, "What hath befallen thee?" So I told her all that had +happened and she wept awhile, then she rose and set some matter of meat +and drink before me. I ate a little and drank, after which I repeated +my story to her, and told her the whole occurrence; whereupon she +exclaimed, "Praised be Allah, that she did but this to thee and forbore +to slaughter thee!" Then she nursed me and medicined me till I regained +my health; and, when my recovery was complete, she said to me, "O my +son, I will now bring out to thee that which thy cousin committed to me +in trust for thee; for it is thine. She swore me not to give it thee, +till I should see thee recalling her to mind and weeping over her and +thy connection severed from other than herself; and now I know that +these conditions are fulfilled in thee." So she arose, and opening a +chest, took out this piece of linen, with the figures of gazelles +worked thereon, which I had given to Azizah in time past; and taking it +I found written therein these couplets, + +"Lady of beauty, say, who taught thee hard and harsh design, * + To slay with longing Love's excess this hapless lover thine? +An thou fain disremember me beyond our parting day, * Allah will + know, that thee and thee my memory never shall tyne. +Thou blamest me with bitter speech yet sweetest 'tis to me; * + Wilt generous be and deign one day to show of love a sign? +I had not reckoned Love contained so much of pine and pain; * + And soul distress until I came for thee to pain and pine +Never my heart knew weariness, until that eve I fell * In love + wi' thee, and prostrate fell before those glancing eyne! +My very foes have mercy on my case and moan therefor; * But thou, + O heart of Indian steel, all mercy dost decline. +No, never will I be consoled, by Allah, an I die, * Nor yet + forget the love of thee though life in ruins lie!" + +When I read these couplets, I wept with sore weeping and buffeted my +face; then I unfolded the scroll, and there fell from it an other +paper. I opened it and behold, I found written therein, 'Know, O son +of my uncle, that I acquit thee of my blood and I beseech Allah to make +accord between thee and her whom thou lovest; but if aught befal thee +through the daughter of Dalilah the Wily, return thou not to her +neither resort to any other woman and patiently bear thine affliction, +for were not thy fated life tide a long life, thou hadst perished long +ago; but praised be Allah who hath appointed my death day before thine! + My peace be upon thee; preserve this cloth with the gazelles herein +figured and let it not leave thee, for it was my companion when thou +was absent from me;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +pursued to King Zau al-Makan, And the youth Aziz continued to Taj +al-Muluk: So I read what my cousin had written and the charge to me +which was, "Preserve this cloth with the gazelles and let it not leave +thee, for it was my companion when thou west absent from me and, Allah +upon thee! if thou chance to fall in with her who worked these +gazelles, hold aloof from her and do not let her approach thee nor +marry her; and if thou happen not on her and find no way to her, look +thou consort not with any of her sex. Know that she who wrought these +gazelles worketh every year a gazelle cloth and despatcheth it to far +countries, that her report and the beauty of her broidery, which none +in the world can match, may be bruited abroad. As for thy beloved, the +daughter of Dalilah the Wily, this cloth came to her hand, and she used +to ensnare folk with it, showing it to them and saying, 'I have a +sister who wrought this.' But she lied in so saying, Allah rend her +veil! This is my parting counsel; and I have not charged thee with +this charge, but because I know[FN#6] that after my death the world +will be straitened on thee and, haply, by reason of this, thou wilt +leave thy native land and wander in foreign parts, and hearing of her +who wrought these figures, thou mayest be minded to fore gather with +her. Then wilt thou remember me, when the memory shall not avail thee; +nor wilt thou know my worth till after my death. And, lastly, learn +that she who wrought the gazelles is the daughter of the King of the +Camphor Islands and a lady of the noblest." Now when I had read that +scroll and understood what was written therein, I fell again to +weeping, and my mother wept because I wept, and I ceased not to gaze +upon it and to shed tears till night fall. I abode in this condition a +whole year, at the end of which the merchants, with whom I am in this +cafilah, prepared to set out from my native town; and my mother +counseled me to equip myself and journey with them, so haply I might be +consoled and my sorrow be dispelled, saying, "Take comfort and put away +from thee this mourning and travel for a year or two or three, till the +caravan return, when perhaps thy breast may be broadened and thy heart +heartened." And she ceased not to persuade me with endearing words, +till I provided myself with merchandise and set out with the caravan. +But all the time of my wayfaring, my tears have never dried; no, never! + and at every halting place where we halt, I open this piece of linen +and look on these gazelles and call to mind my cousin Azizah and weep +for her as thou hast seen; for indeed she loved me with dearest love +and died, oppressed by my unlove. I did her nought but ill and she did +me nought but good. When these merchants return from their journey, I +shall return with them, by which time I shall have been absent a whole +year: yet hath my sorrow waxed greater and my grief and affliction were +but increased by my visit to the Islands of Camphor and the Castle of +Crystal. Now these islands are seven in number and are ruled by a +King, by name Shahriman,[FN#7] who hath a daughter called Dunyá;[FN#8] +and I was told that it was she who wrought these gazelles and that this +piece in my possession was of her embroidery. When I knew this, my +yearning redoubled and I burnt with the slow fire of pining and was +drowned in the sea of sad thought; and I wept over myself for that I +was become even as a woman, without manly tool like other men, and +there was no help for it. From the day of my quitting the Camphor +Islands, I have been tearful eyed and heavy hearted, and such hath been +my case for a long while and I know not whether it will be given me to +return to my native land and die beside my mother or not; for I am sick +from eating too much of the world. Thereupon the young merchant wept +and groaned and complained and gazed upon the gazelles; whilst the +tears rolled down his cheeks in streams and he repeated these two +couplets, + +"Joy needs shall come," a prattler 'gan to prattle: * + "Needs cease thy blame!" I was commoved to rattle: +'In time,' quoth he: quoth I ' 'Tis marvellous! * + Who shall ensure my life, O cold of tattle!'"[FN#9] + +And he repeated also these, + +"Well Allah weets that since our severance day * + I've wept till forced to ask of tears a loan: +'Patience! (the blamer cries): thou'lt have her yet!' * + Quoth I, 'O blamer where may patience wone?'" + +Then said he, "This, O King! is my tale: hast thou ever heard one +stranger?" So Taj al-Muluk marvelled with great marvel at the young +merchant's story, and fire darted into his entrails on hearing the name +of the Lady Dunya and her loveliness.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to Zau al-Makan: Now when Taj al-Muluk heard the story of the +young merchant, he marvelled with great marvel and fire darted into his +entrails on hearing the name of the Lady Dunya who, as he knew, had +embroidered the gazelles; and his love and longing hourly grew, so he +said to the youth, "By Allah, that hath befallen thee whose like never +befel any save thyself, but thou hast a life term appointed, which thou +must fulfil; and now I would fain ask of thee a question." Quoth Aziz, +"And what is it?" Quoth he, "Wilt thou tell me how thou sawest the +young lady who wrought these gazelles?" Then he, "O my lord, I got me +access to her by a sleight and it was this. When I entered her city +with the caravan, I went forth and wandered about the garths till I +came to a flower garden abounding in trees, whose keeper was a +venerable old man, a Shaykh stricken in years. I addressed him, +saying, 'O ancient sir, whose may be this garden?' and he replied, 'It +belongs to the King's daughter, the Lady Dunya. We are now beneath her +palace and, when she is minded to amuse herself, she openeth the +private wicket and walketh in the garden and smelleth the fragrance of +the flowers.' So I said to him, 'Favour me by allowing me to sit in +this garden till she come; haply I may enjoy a sight of her as she +passeth.' The Shaykh answered, 'There can be no harm in that.' +Thereupon I gave him a dirham or so and said to him, Buy us something +to eat.' He took the money gladly and opened door and, entering +himself, admitted me into the garden, where we strolled and ceased not +strolling till we reached a pleasant spot in which he bade me sit down +and await his going and his returning. Then he brought me somewhat of +fruit and, leaving me, disappeared for an hour; but after a while he +returned to me bringing a roasted lamb, of which we ate till we had +eaten enough, my heart yearning the while for a sight of the lady. +Presently, as we sat, the postern opened and the keeper said to me, +'Rise and hide thee.' I did so; and behold, a black eunuch put his head +out through the garden wicket and asked, 'O Shaykh, there any one with +thee?' 'No,' answered he; and the eunuch said, 'Shut the garden gate.' +So the keeper shut the gate, and lo! the Lady Dunya came in by the +private door. When I saw her, methought the moon had risen above the +horizon and was shining; I looked at her a full hour and longed for her +as one athirst longeth for water. After a while she withdrew and shut +the door; whereupon I left the garden and sought my lodging, knowing +that I could not get at her and that I was no man for her, more +especially as I was become like a woman, having no manly tool: moreover +she was a King's daughter and I but a merchant man; so; how could I +have access to the like of her or— to any other woman? Accordingly, +when these my companions made ready for the road, I also made +preparation and set out with them, and we journeyed towards this city +till we arrived at the place ere we met with thee. Thou askedst me and +I have answered; and these are my adventures and peace be with thee!" +Now when Taj al-Muluk heard that account, fires raged in his bosom and +his heart and thought were occupied love for the Lady Dunya; and +passion and longing were sore upon him. Then he arose and mounted +horse and, taking Aziz with him, returned to his father's capital, +where he settled him in a separate house and supplied him with all he +needed in the way of meat and drink and dress. Then he left him and +returned to his palace, with the tears trickling down his cheeks, for +hearing oftentimes standeth instead of seeing and knowing.[FN#10] And +he ceased not to be in this state till his father came in to him and +finding him wan faced, lean of limb and tearful eyed, knew that +something had occurred to chagrin him and said, "O my son, acquaint me +with thy case and tell me what hath befallen thee, that thy colour is +changed and thy body is wasted. So he told him all that had passed and +what tale he had heard of Aziz and the account of the Princess Dunya; +and how he had fallen in love of her on hearsay, without having set +eyes on her. Quoth his sire, "O my son, she is the daughter of a King +whose land is far from ours: so put away this thought and go in to thy +mother's palace."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirtieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to Zau al-Makan: And the father of Taj al-Muluk spake to him +on this wise, "O my son, her father is a King whose land is far from +ours: so put away this thought and go into thy mother's palace where +are five hundred maidens like moons, and whichsoever of them pleaseth +thee, take her; or else we will seek for thee in marriage some one of +the King's daughters, fairer than the Lady Dunya." Answered Taj +al-Muluk, "O my father, I desire none other, for she it is who wrought +the gazelles which I saw, and there is no help but that I have her; +else I will flee into the world and the waste and I will slay myself +for her sake." Then said his father, "Have patience with me, till I +send to her sire and demand her in marriage, and win thee thy wish as I +did for myself with thy mother. Haply Allah will bring thee to thy +desire; and, if her parent will not consent, I will make his kingdom +quake under him with an army, whose rear shall be with me whilst its +van shall be upon him." Then he sent for the youth Aziz and asked him, +"O my son, tell me dost thou know the way to the Camphor Islands?" He +answered "Yes"; and the King said, "I desire of thee that thou fare +with my Wazir thither." Replied Aziz, "I hear and I obey, O King of the +Age!"; where upon the King summoned his Minister and said to him, +"Devise me some device, whereby my son's affair may be rightly managed +and fare thou forth to the Camphor Islands and demand of their King his +daughter in marriage for my son, Taj al-Muluk." The Wazir replied, +"Hearkening and obedience." Then Taj al-Muluk returned to his dwelling +place and his love and longing redoubled and the delay seemed endless +to him; and when the night darkened around him, he wept and sighed and +complained and repeated this poetry, + +"Dark falls the night: my tears unaided rail * And fiercest + flames of love my heart assail: +Ask thou the nights of me, and they shall tell * An I find aught + to do but weep and wail: +Night long awake, I watch the stars what while * Pour down my + cheeks the tears like dropping hail: +And lone and lorn I'm grown with none to aid; * For kith and kin + the love lost lover fail." + +And when he had ended his reciting he swooned away and did not recover +his senses till the morning, at which time there came to him one of his +father's eunuchs and, standing at his head, summoned him to the King's +presence. So he went with him and his father, seeing that his pallor +had increased, exhorted him to patience and promised him union with her +he loved. Then he equipped Aziz and the Wazir and supplied them with +presents; and they set out and fared on day and night till they drew +near the Isles of Camphor, where they halted on the banks of a stream, +and the Minister despatched a messenger to acquaint the King of his +arrival. The messenger hurried forwards and had not been gone more +than an hour, before they saw the King's Chamberlains and Emirs +advancing towards them, to meet them at a parasang's distance from the +city and escort them into the royal presence. They laid their gifts +before the King and became his guests for three days. And on the +fourth day the Wazir rose and going in to the King, stood between his +hands and acquainted him with the object which induced his visit; +whereat he was perplexed for an answer inasmuch as his daughter +misliked men and disliked marriage. So he bowed his head groundwards +awhile, then raised it and calling one of his eunuchs, said to him, "Go +to thy mistress, the Lady Dunya, and repeat to her what thou hast heard +and the purport of this Wazir's coming." So the eunuch went forth and +returning after a time, said to the King, "O King of the Age, when I +went in to the Lady Dunya and told her what I had heard, she was wroth +with exceeding wrath and rose at me with a staff designing to break my +head; so I fled from her, and she said to me 'If my Father force me to +wed him, whomsoever I wed I will slay.' Then said her sire to the Wazir +and Aziz, "Ye have heard, and now ye know all! So let your King wot of +it and give him my salutations and say that my daughter misliketh men +and disliketh marriage."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Shahriman +thus addressed the Wazir and Aziz, "Salute your King from me and inform +him of what ye have heard, namely that my daughter misliketh marriage." +So they turned away unsuccessful and ceased not faring on till they +rejoined the King and told him what had passed; whereupon he commanded +the chief officers to summon the troops and get them ready for marching +and campaigning. But the Wazir said to him, "O my liege Lord, do not +thus: the King is not at fault because, when his daughter learnt our +business, she sent a message saying, 'If my father force me to wed, +whomsoever I wed I will slay and myself after him.' So the refusal +cometh from her." When the King heard his Minister's words he feared +for Taj al-Muluk and said, "Verily if I make war on the King of the +Camphor Islands and carry off his daughter, she will kill herself and +it will avail me naught." Then he told his son how the case stood, who +hearing it said, "O my father, I cannot live without her; so I will go +to her and contrive to get at her, even though I die in the attempt, +and this only will I do and nothing else." Asked his father, "How wilt +thou go to her?" and he answered, "I will go in the guise of a +merchant."[FN#11] Then said the King, "If thou need must go and there +is no help for it, take with thee the Wazir and Aziz." Then he brought +out money from his treasuries and made ready for his son merchandise to +the value of an hundred thousand dinars. The two had settled upon this +action; and when the dark hours came Taj al-Muluk and Aziz went to +Aziz's lodgings and there passed that night, and the Prince was heart +smitten, taking no pleasure in food or in sleep; for melancholy was +heavy upon him and he was agitated with longing for his beloved. So he +besought the Creator that he would vouch safe to unite him with her and +he wept and groaned and wailed and began versifying, + +"Union, this severance ended, shall I see some day? * Then shall + my tears this love lorn lot of me portray. +While night all care forgets I only minded thee, * And thou didst + gar me wake while all forgetful lay." + +And when his improvising came to an end, he wept with sore weeping and +Aziz wept with him, for that he remembered his cousin; and they both +ceased not to shed tears till morning dawned, whereupon Taj al-Muluk +rose and went to farewell his mother, in travelling dress. She asked +him of his case and he repeated the story to her; so she gave him fifty +thousand gold pieces and bade him adieu; and, as he fared forth, she +put up prayers for his safety and for his union with his lover and his +friends. Then he betook himself to his father and asked his leave to +depart. The King granted him permission and, presenting him with other +fifty thousand dinars, bade set up a tent for him without the city and +they pitched a pavilion wherein the travellers abode two days. Then +all set out on their journey. Now Taj al-Muluk delighted in the company +of Aziz and said to him, "O my brother, henceforth I can never part +from thee." Replied Aziz, "And I am of like mind and fain would I die +under thy feet: but, O my brother, my heart is concerned for my +mother." "When we shall have won our wish," said the Prince, "there +will be naught save what is well!" Now the Wazir continued charging Taj +al-Muluk to be patient, whilst Aziz entertained him every evening with +talk and recited poetry to him and diverted him with histories and +anecdotes. And so they fared on diligently night and day for two whole +months, till the way became tedious to Taj al-Muluk and the fire of +desire redoubled on him; and he broke out, + +"The road is lonesome; grow my grief and need, * While on my + breast love fires for ever feed: +Goal of my hopes, sole object of my wish! * By him who moulded + man from drop o' seed, +I bear such loads of longing for thy love, * Dearest, as weight + of al Shumm Mounts exceed: +O 'Lady of my World'[FN#12] Love does me die; * No breath of life + is left for life to plead; +But for the union hope that lends me strength, * My weary limbs + were weak this way to speed." + +When he had finished his verses, he wept (and Aziz wept with him) from +a wounded heart, till the Minister was moved to pity by their tears and +said, "O my lord, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes clear of tears; +there will be naught save what is well!" Quoth Taj al-Muluk, "O Wazir, +indeed I am weary of the length of the way. Tell me how far we are yet +distant from the city." Quoth Aziz, "But a little way remaineth to us." +Then they continued their journey, cutting across river vales and +plains, words and stony wastes, till one night, as Taj al-Muluk was +sleeping, he dreamt that his beloved was with him and that he embraced +her and pressed her to his bosom; and he awoke quivering, shivering +with pain, delirious with emotion, and improvised these verses, + +"Dear friend, my tears aye flow these cheeks adown, * + With longsome pain and pine, my sorrow's crown: +I plain like keening woman child bereft, * + And as night falls like widow dove I groan: +An blow the breeze from land where thou cost wone, * + I find o'er sunburnt earth sweet coolness blown. +Peace be wi' thee, my love, while zephyr breathes, * + And cushat flies and turtle makes her moan." + +And when he had ended his versifying, the Wazir came to him and said, +"Rejoice; this is a good sign: so be of good cheer and keep thine eyes +cool and clear, for thou shalt surely compass thy desire." And Aziz +also came to him and exhorted him to patience and applied himself to +divert him, talking with him and telling him tales. So they pressed +on, marching day and night, other two months, till there appeared to +them one day at sunrise some white thing in the distance and Taj +al-Muluk said to Aziz, "What is yonder whiteness?" He replied, "O my +lord! yonder is the Castle of Crystal and that is the city thou +seekest." At this the Prince rejoiced, and they ceased not faring +forwards till they drew near the city and, as they approached it, Taj +al-Muluk joyed with exceeding joy, and his care ceased from him. They +entered in trader guise, the King's son being habited as a merchant of +importance; and repaired to a great Khan, known as the Merchants' +Lodging. Quoth Taj al-Muluk to Aziz, "Is this the resort of the +merchants?"; and quoth he, "Yes; 'tis the Khan wherein I lodged +before." So they alighted there and making their baggage camels kneel, +unloaded them and stored their goods in the warehouses.[FN#13] They +abode four days for rest; when the Wazir advised that they should hire +a large house. To this they assented and they found them a spacious +house, fitted up for festivities, where they took up their abode, and +the Wazir and Aziz studied to devise some device for Taj al-Muluk, who +remained in a state of perplexity, knowing not what to do. Now the +Minister could think of nothing but that he should set up as a merchant +on 'Change and in the market of fine stuffs; so he turned to the Prince +and his companion and said to them, "Know ye that if we tarry here on +this wise, assuredly we shall not win our wish nor attain our aim; but +a something occurred to me whereby (if Allah please!) we shall find our +advantage." Replied Taj al-Muluk and Aziz, "Do what seemeth good to +thee, indeed there is a blessing on the grey beard; more specially on +those who, like thyself, are conversant with the conduct of affairs: so +tell us what occurreth to thy mind." Rejoined the Wazir "It is my +counsel that we hire thee a shop in the stuff bazar, where thou mayst +sit to sell and buy. Every one, great and small, hath need of silken +stuffs and other cloths; so if thou patiently abide in thy shop, thine +affairs will prosper, Inshallah! more by token as thou art comely of +aspect. Make, however, Aziz thy factor and set him within the shop, to +hand thee the pieces of cloth and stuffs." When Taj al-Muluk heard +these words, he said, 'This rede is right and a right pleasant +recking." So he took out a handsome suit of merchant's weed, and, +putting it on, set out for the bazar, followed by his servants, to one +of whom he had given a thousand dinars, wherewith to fit up the shop. +They ceased not walking till they came to the stuff market, and when +the merchants saw Taj al-Muluk's beauty and grace, they were confounded +and went about saying, "Of a truth Rizwán[FN#14] hath opened the gates +of Paradise and left them unguarded, so that this youth of passing +comeliness hath come forth." And others, "Peradventure this is one of +the angels." Now when they went in among the traders they asked for the +shop of the Overseer of the market and the merchants directed them +thereto. So they delayed not to repair thither and to salute him, and +he and those who were with him rose to them and seated them and made +much of them, because of the Wazir, whom they saw to be a man in years +and of reverend aspect; and viewing the youths Aziz and Taj al-Muluk in +his company, they said to one another, "Doubtless our Shaykh is the +father of these two youths." Then quoth the Wazir, "Who among you is +the Overseer of the market?" "This is he," replied they; and behold, he +came forward and the Wazir observed him narrowly and saw him to be an +old man of grave and dignified carriage, with eunuchs and servants and +black slaves. The Syndic greeted them with the greeting of friends and +was lavish in his attentions to them: then he seated them by his side +and asked them, "Have ye any business which we[FN#15] may have the +happiness of transacting?" The Minister answered, "Yes; I am an old +man, stricken in years, and have with me these two youths, with whom I +have travelled through every town and country, entering no great city +without tarrying there a full year, that they might take their pleasure +in viewing it and come to know its citizens. Now I have visited your +town intending to sojourn here for a while; so I want of thee a +handsome shop in the best situation, wherein I may establish them, that +they may traffic and learn to buy and sell and give and take, whilst +they divert themselves with the sight of the place, and be come +familiar with the usages of its people." Quoth the Overseer, "There is +no harm in that;" and, looking at the two youths, he was delighted with +them and affected them with a warm affection. Now he was a great +connoisseur of bewitching glances, preferring the love of boys to that +of girls and inclining to the sour rather than the sweet of love. So +he said to himself, "This, indeed, is fine game. Glory be to Him who +created and fashioned them out of vile water!"[FN#16] and rising stood +before them like a servant to do them honour. Then he went out and +made ready for them a shop which was in the very midst of the Exchange; +nor was there any larger or better in the bazar, for it was spacious +and handsomely decorated and fitted with shelves of ivory and ebony +wood. After this he delivered the keys to the Wazir, who was dressed +as an old merchant, saying, "Take them, O my lord, and Allah make it a +blessed abiding place to thy two sons!" The Minister took the keys and +the three returning to the Khan where they had alighted, bade the +servants transport to the shop all their goods and stuffs.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir +took the shop keys, he went accompanied by Taj al-Muluk and Aziz to the +Khan, and they bade the servants transport to the shop all their goods +and stuffs and valuables of which they had great store worth treasures +of money. And when all this was duly done, they went to the shop and +ordered their stock in trade and slept there that night. As soon as +morning morrowed the Wazir took the two young men to the Hammam bath +where they washed them clean; and they donned rich dresses and scented +themselves with essences and enjoyed themselves to the utmost. Now +each of the youths was passing fair to look upon, and in the bath they +were even as saith the poet, + +"Luck to the Rubber, whose deft hand o'erdies * + A frame begotten twixt the lymph and light:[FN#17] +He shows the thaumaturgy of his craft, * + And gathers musk in form of camphor dight."[FN#18] + +After bathing they left; and, when the Overseer heard that they had +gone to the Hammam, he sat down to await the twain, and presently they +came up to him like two gazelles; their cheeks were reddened by the +bath and their eyes were darker than ever; their faces shone and they +were as two lustrous moons or two branches fruit laden. Now when he +saw them he rose forthright and said to them, "O my sons, may your bath +profit you always!"[FN#19] Where upon Taj al-Muluk replied, with the +sweetest of speech, "Allah be bountiful to thee, O my father; why didst +thou not come with us and bathe in our company?" Then they both bent +over his right hand and kissed it and walked before him to the shop, to +entreat him honourably and show their respect for him, for that he was +Chief of the Merchants and the market, and he had done them kindness in +giving them the shop. When he saw their hips quivering as they moved, +desire and longing redoubled on him; and he puffed and snorted and he +devoured them with his eyes, for he could not contain himself, +repeating the while these two couplets, + +"Here the heart reads a chapter of devotion pure; * + Nor reads dispute if Heaven in worship partner take: +No wonder 'tis he trembles walking 'neath such weight! * + How much of movement that revolving sphere must + make.[FN#20]" + +Furthermore he said, + +"I saw two charmers treading humble earth. * + Two I must love an tread they on mine eyes." + +When they heard this, they conjured him to enter the bath with them a +second time. He could hardly believe his ears and hastening thither, +went in with them. The Wazir had not yet left the bath; so when he +heard of the Overseer's coming, he came out and meeting him in the +middle of the bath hall invited him to enter. He refused, whereupon +Taj al-Muluk taking him by the hand walked on one side and Aziz by the +other, and carried him into a cabinet; and that impure old man +submitted to them, whilst his emotion increased on him. He would have +refused, albeit this was what he desired; but the Minister said to him, +"They are thy sons; let them wash thee and cleanse thee." "Allah +preserve them to thee!" exclaimed the Overseer, "By Allah your coming +and the coming of those with you bring down blessing and good luck upon +our city!" And he repeated these two couplets, + +"Thou camest and green grew the hills anew; * + And sweetest bloom to the bridegroom threw, +While aloud cried Earth and her earth-borns too * + 'Hail and welcome who comest with grace to endue.'" + +They thanked him for this, and Taj al-Muluk ceased not to wash him and +to pour water over him and he thought his soul in Paradise. When they +had made an end of his service, he blessed them and sat by the side of +the Wazir, talking but gazing the while on the youths. Presently, the +servants brought them towels, and they dried themselves and donned +their dress. Then they went out, and the Minister turned to the Syndic +and said to him, "O my lord! verily the bath is the Paradise[FN#21] of +this world." Replied the Overseer, "Allah vouchsafe to thee such +Paradise, and health to thy sons and guard them from the evil eye! Do +ye remember aught that the eloquent have said in praise of the bath.?" +Quoth Taj al-Muluk, "I will repeat for thee a pair of couplets;" and he +recited, + +The life of the bath is the joy of man's life,[FN#22] * + Save that time is short for us there to bide: +A Heaven where irksome it were to stay; * + A Hell, delightful at entering-tide." + +When he ended his recital, quoth Aziz, "And I also remember two +couplets in praise of the bath." The Overseer said, "Let me hear them," +so he repeated the following, + +"A house where flowers from stones of granite grow, * + Seen at its best when hot with living lows: +Thou deem'st it Hell but here, forsooth, is Heaven, * + And some like suns and moons within it show." + +And when he had ended his recital, his verses pleased the Overseer and +he wondered at his words and savoured their grace and fecundity and +said to them, "By Allah, ye possess both beauty and eloquence. But now +listen to me, you twain!" And he began chanting, and recited in song +the following verses, + +"O joy of Hell and Heaven! whose tormentry * + Enquickens frame and soul with lively gree: +I marvel so delightsome house to view, * + And most when 'neath it kindled fires I see: +Sojourn of bliss to visitors, withal * + Pools on them pour down tears unceasingly." + +Then his eye-sight roamed and browsed on the gardens of their beauty +and he repeated these two couplets, + +"I went to the house of the keeper-man; * + He was out, but others to smile began: +I entered his Heaven[FN#23] and then his Hell;[FN#24] * + And I said 'Bless Málik[FN#25] and bless Rizwán.' "[FN#26] + +When they heard these verses they were charmed, and the Over seer +invited them to his house; but they declined and returned to their own +place, to rest from the great heat of the bath. So they took their +ease there and ate and drank and passed that night in perfect solace +and satisfaction, till morning dawned, when they arose from sleep and +making their lesser ablution, prayed the dawn- prayer and drank the +morning draught.[FN#27] As soon as the sun had risen and the shops and +markets opened, they arose and going forth from their place to the +bazar opened their shop, which their servants had already furnished, +after the handsomest fashion, and had spread with prayer rugs and +silken carpets and had placed on the divans a pair of mattresses, each +worth an hundred dinars. On every mattress they had disposed a rug of +skin fit for a King and edged with a fringe of gold; and a-middlemost +the shop stood a third seat still richer, even as the place required. +Then Taj al-Muluk sat down on one divan, and Aziz on another, whilst +the Wazir seated himself on that in the centre, and the servants stood +before them. The city people soon heard of them and crowded about +them, so that they sold some of their goods and not a few of their +stuffs; for Taj al-Muluk's beauty and loveliness had become the talk of +the town. Thus they passed a trifle of time, and every day the people +flocked to them and pressed upon them more and more, till the Wazir, +after exhorting Taj al-Muluk to keep his secret, commended him to the +care of Aziz and went home, that he might commune with himself alone +and cast about for some contrivance which might profit them. +Meanwhile, the two young men sat talking and Taj al-Muluk said to Aziz, +"Haply some one will come from the Lady Dunya." So he ceased not +expecting this chance days and nights, but his heart was troubled and +he knew neither sleep nor rest; for desire had got the mastery of him, +and love and longing were sore upon him, so that he renounced the +solace of sleep and abstained from meat and drink; yet ceased he not to +be like the moon on the night of fullness. Now one day as he sat in +the shop, behold, there came up an ancient woman.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to Zau al-Makan: Now one day as Taj al-Muluk sat in his shop, +behold, there appeared an ancient woman, who came up to him followed by +two slave girls. She ceased not advancing till she stood before the +shop of Taj al-Muluk and, observing his symmetry and beauty and +loveliness, marvelled at his charms and sweated in her petticoat +trousers, exclaiming, "Glory to Him who created thee out of vile water, +and made thee a temptation to all beholders!" And she fixed her eyes on +him and said, "This is not a mortal, he is none other than an angel +deserving the highest respect."[FN#28] Then she drew near and saluted +him, whereupon he returned her salute and rose to his feet to receive +her and smiled in her face (all this by a hint from Aziz); after which +he made her sit down by his side and fanned her with a fan, till she +was rested and refreshed. Then she turned to Taj al-Muluk and said, "O +my son! O thou who art perfect in bodily gifts and spiritual graces; +say me, art thou of this country?" He replied, in voice the sweetest +and in tone the pleasantest, "By Allah, O my mistress, I was never in +this land during my life till this time, nor do I abide here save by +way of diversion." Rejoined she, "May the Granter grant thee all honour +and prosperity! And what stuffs hast thou brought with thee? Show me +something passing fine; for the beauteous should bring nothing but what +is beautiful." When he heard her words, his heart fluttered and he knew +not their inner meaning; but Aziz made a sign to him and he replied, "I +have everything thou canst desire and especially I have goods that +besit none but Kings and King's daughters; so tell me what stuff thou +wantest and for whom, that I may show thee what will be fitting for +him." This he said, that he might learn the meaning of her words; and +she rejoined, "I want a stuff fit for the Princess Dunya, daughter of +King Shahriman." Now when the Prince heard the name of his beloved, he +joyed with great joy and said to Aziz, "Give me such a parcel." So Aziz +brought it and opened it before Taj al-Muluk who said to the old woman, +"Select what will suit her; for these goods are to be found only with +me." She chose stuffs worth a thousand dinars and asked, "How much is +this?"; and she ceased not the while to talk with him and rub what was +inside her thighs with the palm of her hand. Answered Taj al-Muluk, +"Shall I haggle with the like of thee about this paltry price? Praised +be Allah who hath acquainted me with thee!" The old woman rejoined, +"Allah's name be upon thee! I commend thy beautiful face to the +protection of the Lord of the Daybreak.[FN#29] Beautiful face and +eloquent speech! Happy she who lieth in thy bosom and claspeth thy +waist in her arms and enjoyeth thy youth, especially if she be +beautiful and lovely like thyself!" At this, Taj al-Muluk laughed till +he fell on his back and said to himself, "O Thou who fulfillest desires +human by means of pimping old women! They are the true fulfillers of +desires!" Then she asked, "O my son, what is thy name?" and he +answered, "My name is Taj al-Muluk, the Crown of Kings." Quoth she, +"This is indeed a name of Kings and King's sons and thou art clad in +merchant's clothes." Quoth Aziz, "for the love his parents and family +bore him and for the value they set on him, they named him thus." +Replied the old woman, "Thou sayest sooth, Allah guard you both from +the evil eye and the envious, though hearts be broken by your charms!" +Then she took the stuffs and went her way; but she was amazed at his +beauty and stature and symmetry, and she ceased not going till she +found the Lady Dunya and said to her, "O my mistress! I have brought +thee some handsome stuffs." Quoth the Princess, "Show me that same"; +and the old woman, "O apple of my eye, here it is, turn it over and +examine it." Now when the Princess looked at it she was amazed and +said, "O my nurse, this is indeed handsome stuff: I have never seen its +like in our city." "O my lady," replied the old nurse, "he who sold it +me is handsomer still. It would seem as if Rizwan had left the gates +of Paradise open in his carelessness, and as if the youth who sold me +this stuff had come bodily out of Heaven. I would he might sleep this +night with thee and might lie between thy breasts.[FN#30] He hath come +to thy city with these precious stuffs for amusement's sake, and he is +a temptation to all who set eyes on him." The Princess laughed at her +words and said, "Allah afflict thee, O pernicious old hag! Thou dotest +and there is no sense left in thee." Presently, she resumed, "Give me +the stuff that I may look at it anew." So she gave it her and she took +it again and saw that its size was small and its value great. It +pleased her, for she had never in her life seen its like, and she +exclaimed, "By Allah, this is a handsome stuff!" Answered the old +woman, "O my lady, by Allah! if thou sawest its owner thou wouldst know +him for the handsomest man on the face of the earth." Quoth the Lady +Dunya, "Didst thou ask him if he had any need, that he might tell us +and we might satisfy it?" But the nurse shook her head and said, "The +Lord keep thy sagacity! By Allah, he hath a want, may thy skill not +fail thee. What! is any man free from wants?" Rejoined the Princess, +"Go back to him and salute him and say to him, 'Our land and town are +honoured by thy visit and, if thou have any need, we will fulfil it to +thee, on our head and eyes.' " So the old woman at once returned to +Taj al-Muluk, and when he saw her his heart jumped for joy and gladness +and he rose to his feet before her and, taking her hand, seated her by +his side. As soon as she was rested, she told him what Princess Dunya +had said; and he on hearing it joyed with exceeding joy; his breast +dilated to the full; gladness entered his heart and he said to himself, +"Verily, I have my need." Then he asked the old woman, "Haply thou wilt +take her a message from me and bring me her answer?"; and she answered, +"I hear and I obey." So he said to Aziz, "Bring me ink-case and paper +and a brazen pen." And when Aziz brought him what he sought, he hent +the pen in hand and wrote these lines of poetry, + +"I write to thee, O fondest hope! a writ * + Of grief that severance on my soul cloth lay: +Saith its first line, 'Within my heart is [owe!' * + Its second, 'Love and Longing on me prey!' +Its third, 'My patience waste is, fades my life!' * + Its fourth, 'Naught shall my pain and pine allay!' +Its fifth, 'When shall mine eyes enjoy thy sight?' * + Its sixth, 'Say, when shall dawn our meeting-day?' " + +And, lastly, by way of subscription he wrote these words. "This letter +is from the captive of captivation * prisoned in the hold of longing +expectation * wherefrom is no emancipation * but in anticipation and +intercourse and in unification * after absence and separation. * For +from the severance of friends he loveth so fain * he suffereth love +pangs and pining pain. *" Then his tears rushed out, and he indited +these two couplets, + +"I write thee, love, the while my tears pour down; * + Nor cease they ever pouring thick and fleet: +Yet I despair not of my God, whose grace * + Haply some day will grant us twain to meet." + +Then he folded the letter[FN#31] and sealed it with his signet ring and +gave it to the old woman, saying, "Carry it to the Lady Dunya." Quoth +she, "To hear is to obey;" whereupon he gave her a thousand dinars and +said to her, "O my mother! accept this gift from me as a token of my +affection." She took both from him and blessed him and went her way and +never stinted walking till she went in to the Lady Dunya. Now when the +Princess saw her she said to her, "O my nurse, what is it he asketh of +need that we may fulfil his wish to him?" Replied the old woman, "O my +lady, he sendeth thee this letter by me, and I know not what is in it;" +and handed it to her. Then the Princess took the letter and read it; +and when she understood it, she exclaimed, "Whence cometh and whither +goeth this merchant man that he durst address such a letter to me?" And +she slapt her face saying, "'Whence are we that we should come to +shopkeeping? Awah! Awah! By the lord, but that I fear Almighty Allah +I had slain him;" and she added, "Yea, I had crucified[FN#32] him over +his shop door!" Asked the old woman, "What is in this letter to vex thy +heart and move thy wrath on this wise? Doth it contain a complaint of +oppression or demand for the price of the stuff?" Answered the +Princess, "Woe to thee! There is none of this in it, naught but words +of love and endearment. This is all through thee: otherwise whence +should this Satan[FN#33] know me?" Rejoined the old woman, "o my lady, +thou sittest in thy high palace and none may have access to thee; no, +not even the birds of the air. Allah keep thee, and keep thy youth +from blame and reproach! Thou needest not care for the barking of +dogs, for thou art a Princess, the daughter of a King. Be not wroth +with me that I brought thee this letter, knowing not what was in it; +but I opine that thou send him an answer and threaten him with death +and forbid him this foolish talk; surely he will abstain and not do the +like again." Quoth the Lady Dunya, "I fear that, if I write to him, he +will desire me the more." The old woman returned "When he heareth thy +threats and promise of punishment, he will desist from his +persistence." She cried, "Here with the ink case and paper and brazen +pen;" and when they brought them she wrote these couplets, + +"O thou who for thy wakeful nights wouldst claim my love + to boon, * For what of pining thou must feel and + tribulation! +Dost thou, fond fool and proud of sprite, seek meeting with the + Moon? * Say, did man ever win his wish to take in arms the + Moon? +I counsel thee, from soul cast out the wish that dwells + therein, * And cut that short which threatens thee with + sore risk oversoon: +An to such talk thou dare return, I bid thee to expect * + Fro' me such awful penalty as suiteth froward loon: +I swear by Him who moulded man from gout of clotted + blood,[FN#34] * Who lit the Sun to shine by day and lit + for night the moon, +An thou return to mention that thou spakest in thy pride, * + Upon a cross of tree for boon I'll have thee crucified!" + +Then she folded the letter and handing it to the old woman said, "Give +him this and say him, 'Cease from this talk!' " "Hearkening and +obedience," replied she, and taking the letter with joy, returned to +her own house, where she passed the night; and when morning dawned she +betook herself to the shop of Taj al-Muluk whom she found expecting +her. When he saw her, he was ready to fly[FN#35] for delight, and when +she came up to him, he stood to her on his feet and seated her by his +side. Then she brought out the letter and gave it to him, saying, +"Read what is in this;" adding "When Princess Dunya read thy letter she +was angry; but I coaxed her and jested with her till I made her laugh, +and she had pity on thee and she hath returned thee an answer." He +thanked her for her kindness and bade Aziz give her a thousand gold +pieces: then he perused the letter and understanding it fell to weeping +a weeping so sore that the old woman's heart was moved to ruth for him, +and his tears and complaints were grievous to her. Presently she asked +him, "O my son, what is there in this letter to make thee weep?" +Answered he, "She hath threatened me with death and crucifixion and she +forbiddeth me to write to her, but if I write not my death were better +than my life. So take thou my answer to the letter and let her work +her will." Rejoined the old woman, "By the life of thy youth, needs +must I risk my existence for thee, that I may bring thee to thy desire +and help thee to win what thou hast at heart!" And Taj al-Muluk said, +"Whatever thou dost, I will requite thee for it and do thou weigh it in +the scales of thy judgement, for thou art experienced in managing +matters, and skilled in reading the chapters of the book of intrigue: +all hard matters to thee are easy doings; and Allah can bring about +everything." Then he took a sheet of paper and wrote thereon these +improvised couplets, + +"Yestre'en my love with slaughter menaced me, * + But sweet were slaughter and Death's foreordainčd: +Yes, Death is sweet for lover doomed to bear * + Long life, rejected, injured and constrainčd: +By Allah! deign to visit friendless friend! * + Thy thrall am I and like a thrall I'm chainčd: +Mercy, O lady mine, for loving thee! * + Who loveth noble soul should be assainčd." + +Then he sighed heavy sighs and wept till the old woman wept also and +presently taking the letter she said to him, "Be of good cheer and cool +eyes and clear; for needs must I bring thee to thy wish."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Taj al-Muluk +wept the old woman said to him, "Be of good cheer and cool eyes and +clear; for needs must I bring thee to thy wish." Then she rose and left +him on coals of fire; and returned to Princess Dunya, whom she found +still showing on her changed face rage at Taj al-Muluk's letter. So +she gave her his second letter, whereat her wrath redoubled and she +said, "Did I not say he would desire us the more?" Replied the old +woman, "What thing is this dog that he should aspire to thee?" Quoth +the Princess, "Go back to him and tell him that, if he write me after +this, I will cut off his head." Quoth the nurse, "Write these words in +a letter and I will take it to him that his fear may be the greater." +So she took a sheet of paper and wrote thereon these couplets, + +"Ho thou, who past and bygone risks regardest with uncare! * + Thou who to win thy meeting prize dost overslowly fare! +In pride of spirit thinkest thou to win the star Soha[FN#36]? * + Albe thou may not reach the Moon which shines through + upper air? +How darest thou expect to win my favours, hope to clip * + Upon a lover's burning breast my lance like shape and rare? +Leave this thy purpose lest my wrath come down on thee some + day, * A day of wrath shall hoary turn the partings of + thy hair!" + +Then she folded the letter and gave it to the old woman, who took it +and repaired to Taj al-Muluk. And when he saw her, he rose to his feet +and exclaimed, "May Allah never bereave me of the blessing of thy +coming!" Quoth she, "Take the answer to thy letter." He took it and +reading it, wept with sore weeping and said, "I long for some one to +slay me at this moment and send me to my rest, for indeed death were +easier to me than this my state!" Then he took ink case and pen and +paper and wrote a letter containing these two couplets, + +"O hope of me! pursue me not with rigour and disdain: * + Deign thou to visit lover wight in love of thee is drowned; +Deem not a life so deeply wronged I longer will endure; * My soul + for severance from my friend divorced this frame unsound." + +Lastly he folded the letter and handed it to the old woman, saying, "Be +not angry with me, though I have wearied thee to no purpose." And he +bade Aziz give her other thousand ducats, saying, "O my mother, needs +must this letter result in perfect union or utter severance." Replied +she, "O my son, by Allah, I desire nought but thy weal; and it is my +object that she be thine, for indeed thou art the shining moon, and she +the rising sun.[FN#37] If I do not bring you together, there is no +profit in my existence; and I have lived my life till I have reached +the age of ninety years in the practice of wile and intrigue; so how +should I fail to unite two lovers, though in defiance of right and +law?" Then she took leave of him having comforted his heart, and ceased +not walking till she went in to the Lady Dunya. Now she had hidden the +letter in her hair: so when she sat down by the Princess she rubbed her +head and said, "O my lady, maybe thou wilt untwist my hair knot, for it +is a time since I went to the Hammam." The King's daughter bared her +arms to the elbows and, letting down the old woman's locks, began to +loose the knot of back hair; when out dropped the letter and the Lady +Dunya seeing it, asked, "What is this paper?" Quoth the nurse, "As I +sat in the merchant's shop, this paper must have stuck to me: give it +to me that I may return it to him; possibly it containeth some account +whereof he hath need." But the Princess opened it and read it and, when +she understood it, she cried out, "This is one of thy manifold tricks, +and hadst thou not reared me, I would lay violent hands on thee this +moment! Verily Allah hath afflicted me with this merchant: but all +that hath befallen me with him is on thy head. I know not from what +country this one can have come: no man but he would venture to affront +me thus, and I fear lest this my case get abroad, more by token as it +concerneth one who is neither of my kin nor of my peers." Rejoined the +old woman "None would dare speak of this for fear of thy wrath and for +awe of thy sire; so there can be no harm in sending him an answer." +Quoth the Princess, "O my nurse, verily this one is a perfect Satan! +How durst he use such language to me and not dread the Sultan's rage. +Indeed, I am perplexed about his case: if I order him to be put to +death, it were unjust; and if I leave him alive his boldness will +increase." Quoth the old woman, "Come, write him a letter; it may be he +will desist in dread." So she called for paper and ink case and pen and +wrote these couplets, + +"Thy folly drives thee on though long I chid, * + Writing in verse: how long shall I forbid? +For all forbiddal thou persistest more, * + And my sole grace it is to keep it hid; +Then hide thy love nor ever dare reveal, * + For an thou speak, of thee I'll soon be rid +If to thy silly speech thou turn anew, * + Ravens shall croak for thee the wold amid: +And Death shall come and beat thee down ere long, * + Put out of sight and bury 'neath an earthen lid: +Thy folk, fond fool! thou'lt leave for thee to mourn, * + And through their lives to sorrow all forlorn." + +Then she folded the letter and committed it to the old woman, who took +it and returning to Taj al-Muluk, gave it to him. When he read it, he +knew that the Princess was hard hearted and that he should not win +access to her; so he complained of his case to the Wazir and besought +his counsel. Quoth the Minister, "Know thou that naught will profit +thee save that thou write to her and invoke the retribution of Heaven +upon her." And quoth the Prince, "O my brother, O Aziz, do thou write +to her as if my tongue spake, according to thy knowledge." So Aziz took +a paper and wrote these couplets, + +"By the Five Shaykhs,[FN#38] O Lord, I pray deliver me; * + Let her for whom I suffer bear like misery: +Thou knowest how I fry in flaming lowe of love, * + While she I love hath naught of ruth or clemency: +How long shall I, despite my pain, her feelings spare? * + How long shall she wreak tyranny o'er weakling me? +In pains of never ceasing death I ever grieve: * + O Lord, deign aid; none other helping hand I see. +How fain would I forget her and forget her love! * + But how forget when Love garred Patience death to dree? +O thou who hinderest Love to 'joy fair meeting tide * + Say! art thou safe from Time and Fortune's jealousy? +Art thou not glad and blest with happy life, while I * + From folk and country for thy love am doomed flee?" + +Then Aziz folded the letter and gave it to Taj al-Muluk, who read it +and was pleased with it. So he handed it to the old woman, who took it +and went in with it to Princess Dunya. But when she read it and +mastered the meaning thereof, she was enraged with great rage and said, +"All that hath befallen me cometh by means of this ill omened old +woman!" Then she cried out to the damsels and eunuchs, saying, "Seize +this old hag, this accursed trickstress and beat her with your +slippers!" So they came down upon her till she swooned away; and, when +she came to herself, the Princess said to her, "By the Lord! O wicked +old woman, did I not fear Almighty Allah, I would slay thee." Then +quoth she to them, "Beat her again" and they did so till she fainted a +second time, whereupon she bade them drag her forth and throw her +outside the palace door. So they dragged her along on her face and +threw her down before the gate; but as soon as she revived she got up +from the ground and, walking and sitting by turns, made her way home. +There she passed the night till morning, when she arose and went to Taj +al-Muluk and told them all that had occurred. He was distressed at +this grievous news and said, "O my mother, hard indeed to us is that +which hath befallen thee, but all things are according to fate and +man's lot." Replied she, "Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and +clear, for I will not give over striving till I have brought thee and +her together, and made thee enjoy this wanton who hath burnt my skin +with beating." Asked the Prince "Tell me what caused her to hate men;" +and the old woman answered, "It arose from what she saw in a dream." +"And what was this dream?" "'Twas this: one night, as she lay asleep, +she saw a fowler spread his net upon the ground and scatter wheat grain +round it. Then he sat down hard by, and not a bird in the +neighbourhood but flocked to his toils. Amongst the rest she beheld a +pair of pigeons, male and female; and, whilst she was watching the net, +behold, the male bird's foot caught in the meshes and he began to +struggle; whereupon all the other birds took fright and flew away. But +presently his mate came back and hovered over him, then alighted on the +toils unobserved by the fowler, and fell to pecking with her beak and +pulling at the mesh in which the male bird's foot was tangled, till she +released the toes and they flew away together. Then the fowler came +up, mended his net and seated himself afar off. After an hour or so the +birds flew back and the female pigeon was caught in the net; whereupon +all the other birds took fright and scurried away; and the male pigeon +fled with the rest and did not return to his mate, but the fowler came +up and took the female pigeon and cut her throat. The Princess awoke, +troubled by her dream, and said, 'All males are like this pigeon, +worthless creatures: and men in general lack grace and goodness to +women.'" When the old woman had ended her story, the Prince said to +her, "O my mother, I desire to have one look at her, though it be my +death; so do thou contrive me some contrivance for seeing her." She +replied, "Know then that she hath under her palace windows a garden +wherein she taketh her pleasure; and thither she resorteth once in +every month by the private door. After ten days, the time of her thus +going forth to divert herself will arrive; so when she is about to +visit the garden, I will come and tell thee, that thou mayst go thither +and meet her. And look thou leave not the garden, for haply, an she +see thy beauty and Loveliness, her heart will be taken with love of +thee, and love is the most potent means of union." He said, "I hear and +obey;" whereupon he and Aziz arose and left the shop and, taking the +old woman with them, showed her the place where they lodged. Then said +Taj al- Muluk to Aziz, "O my brother, I have no need of the shop now, +having fulfilled my purpose of it; so I give it to thee with all that +is in it; for that thou hast come abroad with me and hast left thy +native land for my sake." Aziz accepted his gift and then they sat +conversing, while the Prince questioned him of the strange adventures +which had befallen him, and his companion acquainted him with the +particulars thereof. Presently, they went to the Wazir and, reporting +to him Taj al-Muluk's purpose, asked him, "What is to be done?" "Let us +go to the garden," answered he. So each and every donned richest +clothes and went forth, followed by three white slaves to the garden, +which they found thick with thickets and railing its rills. When they +saw the keeper sitting at the gate, they saluted him with the Salam and +he returned their salute. Then the Wazir gave him an hundred gold +pieces, saying, "Prithee, take this small sum and fetch us somewhat to +eat; for we are strangers and I have with me these two lads whom I wish +to divert."[FN#39] The Gardener took the sequins and said to them, +"Enter and amuse yourselves in the garden, for it is all yours; and sit +down till I bring you what food you require." So he went to the market +while the Wazir and Taj al-Muluk and Aziz entered the garden. And +shortly after leaving for the bazar the Gardener returned with a +roasted lamb and cotton white bread, which he placed before them, and +they ate and drank; thereupon he served up sweetmeats, and they ate of +them, and washed their hands and sat talking. Presently the Wazir said +to the garth keeper, "Tell me about this garden: is it thine or dost +thou rent it?" The Shaykh replied, "It doth not belong to me, but to +our King's daughter, the Princess Dunya." "What be thy monthly wages?" +asked the Wazir and he answered, "One diner and no more." Then the +Minister looked round about the garden and, seeing in its midst a +pavilion tall and grand but old and disused, said to the keeper, "O +elder, I am minded to do here a good work, by which thou shalt remember +me. Replied the other, "O my lord, what is the good work thou wouldest +do?" "Take these three hundred diners," rejoined the Wazir When the +Keeper heard speak of the gold, he said, "O my lord, whatso thou wilt, +do!" So the Wazir gave him the monies, saying, "Inshallah, we will make +a good work in this place!" Then they left him and returned to their +lodging, where they passed the night; and when it was the next day, the +Minister sent for a plasterer and a painter and a skilful goldsmith +and, furnishing them with all the tools they wanted, carried them to +the garden, where he bade them whitewash the walls of the pavilion and +decorate it with various kinds of paintings. Moreover he sent for gold +and lapis lazuli[FN#40] and said to the painter, "Figure me on the +wall, at the upper end of this hall, a man fowler with his nets spread +and birds falling into them and a female pigeon entangled in the meshes +by her bill." And when the painter had finished his picture on one +side, the Wazir said, "Figure me on the other side a similar figure and +represent the she pigeon alone in the snare and the fowler seizing her +and setting the knife to her neck; and draw on the third side wall, a +great raptor clutching the male pigeon, her mate, and digging talons +into him." The artist did his bidding, and when he and the others had +finished the designs, they received their hire and went away. Then the +Wazir and his companions took leave of the Gardener and returned to +their place, where they sat down to converse. And Taj al-Muluk said to +Aziz, "O my brother, recite me some verses: perchance it may broaden my +breast and dispel my dolours and quench the fire flaming in my heart." +So Aziz chanted with sweet modulation these couplets, + +"Whate'er they say of grief to lovers came, * + I, weakling I, can single handed claim: +An seek thou watering spot,[FN#41] my streaming eyes * + Pour floods that thirst would quench howe'er it flame +Or wouldest view what ruin Love has wrought * + With ruthless hands, then see this wasted frame." + +And his eyes ran over with tears and he repeated these couplets also, + +"Who loves not swan-neck and gazelle-like eyes, * + Yet claims to know Life's joys, I say he lies: +In Love is mystery, none avail to learn * + Save he who loveth in pure loving wise. +Allah my heart ne'er lighten of this love, * + Nor rob the wakefulness these eyelids prize." + +Then he changed the mode of song and sang these couplets: + +"Ibn Síná[FN#42] in his Canon cloth opine * + Lovers' best cure is found in merry song: +In meeting lover of a like degree, * + Dessert in garden, wine draughts long and strong: +I chose another who of thee might cure * + While Force and Fortune aided well and long +But ah! I learnt Love's mortal ill, wherein * + Ibn Sina's recipe is fond and wrong." + +After hearing them to the end, Taj al-Muluk was pleased with his verses +and wondered at his eloquence and the excellence of his recitation, +saying, "Indeed, thou hast done away with somewhat of my sorrow." Then +quoth the Wazir "Of a truth, there occurred to those of old what +astoundeth those who hear it told." Quoth the Prince, "If thou canst +recall aught of this kind, prithee let us hear thy subtle lines and +keep up the talk." So the Minister chanted in modulated song these +couplets, + +"Indeed I deemed thy favours might be bought * + By gifts of gold and things that joy the sprite +And ignorantly thought thee light-o'-love, * + When can thy love lay low the highmost might; +Until I saw thee choosing one, that one * + Loved with all favour, crowned with all delight: +Then wot I thou by sleight canst ne'er be won * + And under wing my head I hid from sight +And in this nest of passion made my wone, * + Wherein I nestle morning, noon and night." + +So far concerning them; but as regards the old woman she remained shut +up from the world in her house, till it befel that the King's daughter +was taken with a desire to divert herself in the garden. Now she had +never been wont so to do save in company with her nurse; accordingly +she sent for her and made friends with her and soothed her sorrow, +saying, "I wish to go forth to the garden, that I may divert myself +with the sight of its trees and Fruits, and broaden my breast with the +scent of its flowers." Replied the old woman, "I hear and obey; but +first I would go to my house, and soon I will be with thee." The +Princess rejoined, "Go home, but be not long absent from me." So the +old woman left her and, repairing to Taj al-Muluk, said to him, "Get +thee ready and don thy richest dress and go to the garden and find out +the Gardener and salute him and then hide thyself therein." "To hear is +to obey" answered he; and she agreed with him upon a signal, after +which she returned to the Lady Dunya. As soon as she was gone, the +Wazir and Aziz rose and robed Taj al-Muluk in a splendid suit of royal +raiment worth five thousand diners, and girt his middle with a girdle +of gold set with gems and precious metals. Then they repaired to the +garden and found seated at the gate the Keeper who, as soon as he saw +the Prince, sprang to his feet and received him with all respect and +reverence, and opening the gate, said, "Enter and take thy pleasure in +looking at the garden." Now the Gardener knew not that the King's +daughter was to visit the place that day; but when Taj al-Muluk had +been a little while there, he heard a hubbub and ere he could think, +out issued the eunuchs and damsels by the private wicket. The Gardener +seeing this came up to the Prince, informed him of her approach and +said to him, "O my lord, what is to be done? The Princess Dunya, the +King's daughter, is here." Replied the Prince, "Fear not, no harm shall +befal thee; for I will hide me somewhere about the garden." So the +Keeper exhorted him to the utmost prudence and went away. Presently +the Princess entered the garden with her damsels and with the old +woman, who said to herself, "If these eunuchs stay with us, we shall +not attain our end." So quoth she to the King's daughter, "O my lady, I +have somewhat to tell thee which shall ease thy heart." Quoth the +Princess, "Say what thou hast to say." "O my lady, rejoined the old +woman, "thou hast no need of these eunuchs at a time like the present; +nor wilt thou be able to divert thyself at thine ease, whilst they are +with us; so send them away;" and the Lady Dunya replied, "Thou speakest +sooth" Accordingly she dismissed them and presently began to walk +about, whilst Taj al-Muluk looked upon her and fed his eyes on her +beauty and loveliness (but she knew it not); and every time he gazed at +her he fainted by reason of her passing charms.[FN#43] The old woman +drew her on by converse till they reached the pavilion which the Wazir +had bidden be decorated, when the Princess entered and cast a glance +round and perceived the picture of the birds the fowler and the pigeon; +whereupon she cried, "Exalted be Allah! This is the very counterfeit +presentment of what I saw in my dream." She continued to gaze at the +figures of the birds and the fowler with his net, admiring the work, +and presently she said, "O my nurse, I have been wont to blame and hate +men, but look now at the fowler how he hath slaughtered the she bird +who set free her mate; who was minded to return to her and aid her to +escape when the bird of prey met him and tore him to pieces." Now the +old woman feigned ignorance to her and ceased not to occupy her in +converse, till they drew near the place where Taj al-Muluk lay hidden. +Thereupon she signed to him to come out and walk under the windows of +the pavilion, and, as the Lady Dunya stood looking from the casement, +behold, her glance fell that way and she saw him and noting his beauty +of face and form, said to the old woman, "O my nurse, whence cometh +yonder handsome youth?" Replied the old woman, "I know nothing of him +save that I think he must be some great King's son, for he attaineth +comeliness in excess and extreme loveliness." And the Lady Dunya fell +in love with him to distraction; the spells which bound her were loosed +and her reason was overcome by his beauty and grace; and his fine +stature and proportions strongly excited her desires sexual. So she +said, "O my nurse! this is indeed a handsome youth;" and the old woman +replied, "Thou sayest sooth, O my lady," and signed to Taj al-Muluk to +go home. And though desire and longing flamed in him and he was +distraught for love, yet he went away and took leave of the Gardener +and returned to his place, obeying the old woman and not daring to +cross her. When he told the Wazir and Aziz that she had signed him to +depart, they exhorted him to patience, saying, "Did not the ancient +dame know that there was an object to be gained by thy departure, she +had not signalled thee to return home." Such was the case with Taj +al-Muluk, the Wazir and Aziz but as regards the King's daughter, the +Lady Dunya, desire and passion redoubled upon her; she was overcome +with love and longing and she said to her nurse, "I know not how I +shall manage a meeting with this youth, but through thee." Exclaimed +the old woman, "I take refuge with Allah from Satan the stoned! Thou +who art averse from men! How cometh it then that thou art thus +afflicted with hope and fear of this young man? Yet, by Allah, none is +worthy of thy youth but he." Quoth the Lady Dunya, "O my nurse, further +my cause and help me to foregather with him, and thou shalt have of me +a thousand diners and a dress of honour worth as much more: but if thou +aid me not to come at him, I am a dead woman in very sooth." Replied +the ancient dame, "Go to thy palace and leave me to devise means for +bringing you twain together. I will throw away my life to content you +both!" So the Lady Dunya returned to her palace, and the old woman +betook herself to Taj al-Muluk who, when he saw her, rose to receive +her and entreated her with respect and reverence making her sit by his +side. Then she said, "The trick hath succeeded," and told him all that +had passed between herself and the Princess. He asked her, "When is +our meeting to be?"; and she answered, "Tomorrow." So he gave her a +thousand diners and a dress of like value, and she took them and +stinted not walking till she returned to her mistress, who said to her, +"O my nurse! what news of the be loved?" Replied she, "I have learnt +where he liveth and will bring him to thee tomorrow." At this the +Princess was glad and gave her a thousand diners and a dress worth as +much more, and she took them and returned to her own place, where she +passed the night till morning. Then she went to Taj al-Muluk and +dressing him in woman's clothes, said to him, "Follow me and sway from +side to side[FN#44] as thou steppest, and hasten not thy pace nor take +heed of any who speaketh to thee." And after thus charging him she went +out, and the Prince followed her in woman's attire and she continued to +charge and encourage him by the way, that he might not be afraid; nor +ceased they walking till they came to the Palace-gate. She entered and +the Prince after her, and she led him on, passing through doors and +vestibules, till they had passed seven doors.[FN#45] As they approached +the seventh, she said to him, "Hearten thy heart and when I call out to +thee and say, 'O damsel pass on!' do not slacken thy pace, but advance +as if about to run. When thou art in the vestibule, look to thy left +and thou wilt see a saloon with doors: count five doors and enter the +sixth, for therein is thy desire." Asked Taj al-Muluk, "And whither +wilt thou go?"; and she answered, "Nowhere shall I go except that +perhaps I may drop behind thee, and the Chief Eunuch may detain me to +chat with him." She walked on (and he behind her) till she reached the +door where the Chief Eunuch was stationed and he, seeing Taj al-Muluk +with her dressed as a slave girl, said to the old woman, "What business +hath this girl with thee?" Replied she, "This is a slave girl of whom +the Lady Dunya hath heard that she is skilled in different kinds of +work and she hath a mind to buy her." Rejoined the Eunuch, "I know +neither slave girls nor anyone else; and none shall enter here without +my searching according to the King's commands."—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Chamberlain +Eunuch cried to the old woman, "I know neither slave girl nor anyone +else; and none shall enter here without my searching him according to +the King's commands." Then quoth she, feigning to be angry, "I thought +thee a man of sense and good breeding; but, if thou be changed, I will +let the Princess know of it and tell her how thou hinderest her slave +girl;" and she cried out to Taj al-Muluk, saying, "Pass on, O damsel!" +So he passed on into the vestibule as she bade him, whilst the Eunuch +was silent and said no more. The Prince counted five doors and entered +the sixth where he found the Princess Dunya standing and awaiting him. +As soon as she saw him, she knew him and clasped him to her breast, and +he clasped her to his bosom. Presently the old woman came in to them, +having made a pretext to dismiss the Princess's slave girls for fear of +disgrace; and the Lady Dunya said to her, "Be thou our door keeper!" So +she and Taj al- Muluk abode alone together and ceased not kissing and +embracing and twining leg with leg till dawn.[FN#46] When day drew +near, she left him and, shutting the door upon him, passed into another +chamber, where she sat down as was her wont, whilst her slave women +came in to her, and she attended to their affairs and conversed with +them. Then she said to them, "Go forth from me now, for I wish to +amuse myself in privacy." So they withdrew and she betook herself to +Taj al-Muluk, and the old woman brought them food, of which they ate +and returned to amorous dalliance till dawn. Then the door was locked +upon him as on the day before; and they ceased not to do thus for a +whole month. This is how it fared with Taj al-Muluk and the Lady +Dunya; but as regards the Wazir and Aziz when they found that the +Prince had gone to the Palace of the King's daughter and there delayed +all the while, they concluded that he would never return from it and +that he was lost for ever; and Aziz said to the Wazir, "O my father, +what shall we do?" He replied, "O my son, this is a difficult matter, +and except we return to his sire and tell him, he will blame us +therefor." So they made ready at once and forthright set out for the +Green Land and the Country of the Two Columns, and sought Sulayman +Shah's capital. And they traversed the valleys night and day till they +went in to the King, and acquainted him with what had befallen his son +and how from the time he entered the Princess's Palace they had heard +no news of him. At this the King was as though the Day of Doom had +dawned for him and regret was sore upon him, and he proclaimed a Holy +War[FN#47] throughout his realm. After which he sent forth his host +without the town and pitched tents for them and took up his abode in +his pavilion, whilst the levies came from all parts of the kingdom; for +his subjects loved him by reason of his great justice and beneficence. +Then he marched with an army walling the horizon, and departed in quest +of his son. Thus far concerning them; but as regards Taj al-Muluk and +the Lady Dunya the two remained as they were half a year's time, whilst +every day they redoubled in mutual affection; and love and longing and +passion and desire so pressed upon Taj al Muluk, that at last he opened +his mind and said to her, "Know, O beloved of my heart and vitals, that +the longer I abide with thee, the more love and longing and passion and +desire increase on me, for that I have not yet fulfilled the whole of +my wish." Asked she, "What then wouldst thou have, O light of my eyes +and fruit of my vitals? If thou desire aught beside kissing and +embracing and entwining of legs with legs, do what pleaseth thee; for, +by Allah, no partner hath any part in us."[FN#48] But he answered "It +is not that I wish: I would fain acquaint thee with my true story. +Know, then, that I am no merchant, nay, I am a King the son of a King, +and my father's name is the supreme King Sulayman Shah, who sent his +Wazir ambassador to thy father, to demand thee in marriage for me, but +when the news came to thee thou wouldst not consent." Then he told her +his past from first to last, nor is there any avail in a twice told +tale, and he added, "And now I wish to return to my father, that he may +send an ambassador to thy sire, to demand thee in wedlock for me, so we +may be at ease." When she heard these words, she joyed with great joy +because it suited with her own wishes, and they passed the night on +this understanding. But it so befel by the decree of Destiny that +sleep overcame them that night above all nights and they remained till +the sun had risen. Now at this hour, King Shahriman was sitting on his +cushion of estate, with his Emirs and Grandees before him, when the +Syndic of the goldsmiths presented himself between his hands, carrying +a large box. And he advanced and opening it in presence of the King, +brought out therefrom a casket of fine work worth an hundred thousand +diners, for that which was therein of precious stones, rubies and +emeralds beyond the competence of any sovereign on earth to procure. +When the King saw this, he marvelled at its beauty; and, turning to the +Chief Eunuch (him with whom the old woman had had to do), said to him, +"O Kafur,[FN#49] take this casket and wend with it to the Princess +Dunya." The Castrato took the casket and repairing to the apartment of +the King's daughter found the door shut and the old woman lying asleep +on the threshold; whereupon said he, "What! sleeping at this hour?" +When the old woman heard the Eunuch's voice she started from sleep and +was terrified and said to him, "Wait till I fetch the key." Then she +went forth and fled for her life. Such was her case; but as regards +the Epicene he, seeing her alarm, lifted the door off its hinge +pins,[FN#50] and entering found the Lady Dunya with her arms round the +neck of Taj al-Muluk and both fast asleep. At this sight he was +confounded and was preparing to return to the King, when the Princess +awoke, and seeing him, was terrified and changed colour and waxed pale, +and said to him, "O Kafur, veil thou what Allah hath veiled!"[FN#51] +But he replied, "I cannot conceal aught from the King"; and, locking +the door on them, returned to Shahriman, who asked him, "Hast thou +given the casket to the Princess?" Answered the Eunuch, "Take the +casket, here it is for I cannot conceal aught from thee. Know that I +found a handsome young man by the side of the Princess and they two +asleep in one bed and in mutual embrace." The King commanded them to be +brought into the presence and said to them, "What manner of thing is +this?" and, being violently enraged, seized a dagger and was about to +strike Taj al-Muluk with it, when the Lady Dunya threw herself upon him +and said to her father, "Slay me before thou slayest him." The King +reviled her and commended her to be taken back to her chamber: then he +turned to Taj al-Muluk and said to him, "Woe to thee! whence art thou? +Who is thy father and what hath emboldened thee to debauch my +daughter?" Replied the Prince, "Know, O King, that if thou put me to +death, thou art a lost man, and thou and all in thy dominions will +repent the deed." Quoth the King, "How so?"; and quoth Taj al-Muluk +"Know that I am the son of King Sulayman Shah, and ere thou knowest it, +he will be upon thee with his horse and foot." When King Shahriman +heard these words he would have deferred killing Taj al-Muluk and would +rather have put him in prison, till he should look into the truth of +his words; but his Wazir said to him, "O King of the Age, it is my +opinion that thou make haste to slay this gallows bird who dares +debauch the daughters of Kings." So the King cried to the headsman, +"Strike off his head; for he is a traitor." Accordingly, the herdsman +took him and bound him fast and raised his hand to the Emirs, signing +to consult them, a first and a second signal, thinking thereby to gain +time in this matter;[FN#52] but the King cried in anger to him, "How +long wilt thou consult others? If thou consult them again I will +strike off thine own head.;' So the headsman raised his hand till the +hair of his armpit showed' and was about to smite his neck,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the headsman +raised his hand to smite off his head when behold, loud cries arose and +the folk closed their shops; whereupon the King said to the headsman, +"Wait awhile," and despatched one to learn the news. The messenger +fared forth and presently returned and reported, "I saw an army like +the dashing sea with its clashing surge: and their horses curvetting +till earth trembleth with the tramp; and I know no more of them." When +the King heard this, he was confounded and feared for his realm lest it +should be torn from him; so he turned to his Minister and said, "Have +not any of our army gone forth to meet this army?" But ere he had done +speaking, his Chamberlains entered with messengers from the King who +was approaching, and amongst them the Wazir who had accompanied Taj +al-Muluk. They began by saluting the King, who rose to receive them +and bade them draw near, and asked the cause of their coming; whereupon +the Minister came forward from amongst them and stood before him and +said "Know that he who hath come down upon thy realm is no King like +unto the Kings of yore and the Sultans that went before." "And who is +he?" asked Shahriman, and the Wazir answered, "He is the Lord of +justice and loyalty, the bruit of whose magnanimity the caravans have +blazed abroad, the Sultan Sulayman Shah, Lord of the Green Land and the +Two Columns and the Mountains of Ispahan; he who loveth justice and +equity, and hateth oppression and iniquity. And he saith to thee that +his son is with thee and in thy city; his son, his heart's very core +and the fruit of his loins, and if he find him in safety, his aim is +won and thou shalt have thanks and praise; but if he have been lost +from thy realm or if aught of evil have befallen him, look thou for +ruin and the wasting of thy reign! for this thy city shall become a +wold wherein the raven shall croak. Thus have I done my errand to thee +and peace be with thee!" Now when King Shahriman heard from the +messenger these words, his heart was troubled and he feared for his +kingdom: so he cried out for his Grandees and Ministers, Chamberlains +and Lieutenants; and, when they appeared, he said to them, "Woe to you! + Go down and search for the youth." Now the Prince was still under the +headsman's hands, but he was changed by the fright he had undergone. +Presently, the Wazir, chancing to glance around, saw the Prince on the +rug of blood and recognised him; so he arose and threw himself upon +him, and so did the other envoys. Then they proceeded to loose his +bonds and they kissed his hands and feet, whereupon Taj al-Muluk opened +his eyes and, recognising his father's Wazir and his friend Aziz, fell +down a fainting for excess of delight in them. When King Shahriman +made sure that the coming of this army was indeed because of this +youth, he was confounded and feared with great fear; so he went up to +Taj al- Muluk and, kissing his head, said to him, "O my son, be not +wroth with me, neither blame the sinner for his sin; but have +compassion on my grey hairs, and waste not my realm." Whereupon Taj +al-Muluk drew near unto him and kissing his hand, replied, "No harm +shall come to thee, for indeed thou art to me as my father; but look +that nought befal my beloved, the Lady Dunya!" Rejoined the King, "O my +lord! fear not for her; naught but joy shall betide her;" and he went +on to excuse himself and made his peace with Sulayman Shah's Wazir to +whom he promised much money, if he would conceal from the King what he +had seen. Then he bade his Chief Officers take the Prince with them +and repair to the Hammam and clothe him in one of the best of his own +suits and bring him back speedily. So they obeyed his bidding and bore +him to the bath and clad him in the clothes which King Shahriman had +set apart for him; and brought him back to the presence chamber. When +he entered the King rose to receive him and made all his Grandees stand +in attendance on him. Then Taj al-Muluk sat down to converse with his +father's Wazir and with Aziz, and he acquainted them with what had +befallen him; after which they said to him, "During that delay we +returned to thy father and gave him to know that thou didst enter the +palace of the Princess and didst not return therefrom, and thy case +seemed doubtful to us. But when thy sire heard of this he mustered his +forces; then we came to this land and indeed our coming hath brought to +thee relief in extreme case and to us great joy." Quoth he, "Good +fortune hath attended your every action, first and last." While this +was doing King Shahriman went in to his daughter Princess Dunya, and +found her wailing and weeping for Taj al-Muluk. Moreover, she had taken +a sword and fixed the hilt in the ground and had set the point to the +middle of her heart between her breasts; and she bent over the blade +saying, "Needs must I slay myself and not survive my beloved." When her +father entered and saw her in this case, he cried out to her, saying, +"O Princess of kings' daughters, hold thy hand and have ruth on thy +sire and the folk of thy realm!" Then he came up to her and continued, +"Let it not be that an ill thing befal thy father for thy sake!" And he +told her the whole tale that her lover was the son of King Sulayman +Shah and sought her to wife and he added, "The marriage waiteth only +for thy consent." Thereat she smiled and said, "Did I not tell thee +that he was the son of a Sultan? By Allah, there is no help for it but +that I let him crucify thee on a bit of wood worth two pieces of +silver!" Replied the King, "O my daughter, have mercy on me, so Allah +have mercy on thee!" Rejoined she, "Up with you and make haste and go +bring him to me without delay." Quoth the King, "On my head and eyes be +it!"; and he left her and, going in hastily to Taj al-Muluk, repeated +her words in his ear.[FN#53] So he arose and accompanied the King to +the Princess, and when she caught sight of her lover, she took hold of +him and embraced him in her father's presence and hung upon him and +kissed him, saying, "Thou hast desolated me by thine absence!" Then she +turned to her father and said, "Sawest thou ever any that could do hurt +to the like of this beautiful being, who is moreover a King, the son of +a King and of the free born,[FN#54] guarded against ignoble deeds?" +There upon King Shahriman went out shutting the door on them with his +own hand; and he returned to the Wazir and to the other envoys of +Sulayman Shah and bade them inform their King that his son was in +health and gladness and enjoying all delight of life with his beloved. +So they returned to King Sulayman and acquainted him with this; +whereupon King Shahriman ordered largesse of money and vivers to the +troops of King Sulayman Shah; and, when they had conveyed all he had +commanded, he bade be brought out an hundred coursers and an hundred +dromedaries and an hundred white slaves and an hundred concubines and +an hundred black slaves and an hundred female slaves; all of which he +forwarded to the King as a present. Then he took horse, with his +Grandees and Chief Officers, and rode out of the city in the direction +of the King's camp. As soon as Sultan Sulayman Shah knew of his +approach, he rose and advanced many paces to meet him. Now the Wazir +and Aziz had told him all the tidings, whereat he rejoiced and cried, +"Praise be to Allah who hath granted the dearest wish of my son!" Then +King Sulayman took King Shahriman in his arms and seated him beside +himself on the royal couch, where they conversed awhile and had +pleasure in each other's conversation. Presently food was set before +them, and they ate till they were satisfied; and sweetmeats and dried +fruits were brought, and they enjoyed their dessert. And after a while +came to them Taj al-Muluk, richly dressed and adorned, and when his +father saw him, he stood up and embraced him and kissed him. Then all +who were sitting rose to do him honour; and the two Kings seated him +between them and they sat conversing a while, after which quoth King +Sulayman Shah to King Shahriman, "I desire to have the marriage +contract between my son and thy daughter drawn up in the presence of +witnesses, that the wedding may be made public, even as is the custom +of Kings." "I hear and I obey," quoth King Shahriman and thereon +summoned the Kazi and the witnesses, who came and wrote out the +marriage contract between Taj al-Muluk and the Lady Dunya. Then they +gave bakhshish[FN#55] of money and sweetmeats; and lavished incense and +essences; and indeed it was a day of joy and gladness and all the +grandees and soldiers rejoiced therein. Then King Shahriman proceeded +to dower and equip his daughter; and Taj al-Muluk said to his sire, "Of +a truth, this young man Aziz is of the generous and hath done me a +notable service, having borne weariness with me; and he hath travelled +with me and hath brought me to my desire. He ceased never to show +sufferance with me and exhort me to patience till I accomplished my +intent; and now he hath abided with us two whole years, and he cut off +from his native land. So now I purpose to equip him with merchandise, +that he may depart hence with a light heart; for his country is +nearhand." Replied his father, "Right is thy rede;" so they made ready +an hundred loads of the richest stuffs and the most costly, and Taj +al-Muluk presented them with great store of money to Aziz, and +farewelled him, saying, "O my brother and my true friend! take these +loads and accept them from me by way of gift and token of affection, +and go in peace to thine own country." Aziz accepted the presents and +kissing the ground between the hands of the Prince and his father bade +them adieu. Moreover, Taj al-Muluk mounted and accompanied him three +miles on his homeward way as a proof of amity, after which Aziz +conjured him to turn back, saying, "By Allah, O my master, were it not +for my mother, I never would part from thee! But, good my lord! leave +me not without news of thee." Replied Taj al-Muluk, "So be it!" Then +the Prince returned to the city and Aziz journeyed on till he came to +his native town; and he entered it and ceased not faring till he went +in to his mother and found that she had built him a monument in the +midst of the house and used to visit it continually. When he entered, +he saw her with hair dishevelled and dispread over the tomb, weeping +and repeating these lines, + +"Indeed I'm strong to bear whate'er befal; * + But weak to bear such parting's dire mischance: +What heart estrangement of the friend can bear? * + What strength withstand assault of severance?" + +Then sobs burst from her breast, and she recited also these couplets, + +"What's this? I pass by tombs, and fondly greet * + My friends' last homes, but send they no reply: +For saith each friend, 'Reply how can I make * + When pledged to clay and pawned to stones I lie? +Earth has consumed my charms and I forget * + Thy love, from kith and kin poor banisht I.' " + +While she was thus, behold, Aziz came in to her and when she saw him, +she fell down, fainting for very joy. He sprinkled water on her face +till she revived and rising, took him in her arms and strained him to +her breast, whilst he in like manner embraced her. Then he greeted her +and she greeted him, and she asked the reason of his long absence, +whereupon he told her all that had befallen him from first to last and +informed her how Taj al-Muluk had given him an hundred loads of monies +and stuffs. At this she rejoiced, and Aziz abode with his mother in +his native town, weeping for what mishaps had happened to him with the +daughter of Dalilah the Wily One, even her who had castrated[FN#56] +him. Such was the case with Aziz; but as regards Taj al-Muluk he went +in unto his beloved, the Princess Dunya, and abated her maidenhead. +Then King Shahriman proceeded to equip his daughter for her journey +with her husband and father in law, and bade bring them provaunt and +presents and rarities. So they loaded their beasts and set forth, +whilst King Shahriman escorted them, by way of farewell, three days' +journey on their way, till King Shah Sulayman conjured him to return. +So he took leave of them and turned back, and Taj al-Muluk and his wife +and father fared for wards night and day, with their troops, till they +drew near their capital. As soon as the news of their coming spread +abroad, the folk decorated for them the city,—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Shah +Sulayman drew near his capital, the folk decorated the city for him and +for his son. So they entered in state and the King, sitting on his +throne with his son by his side, gave alms and largesse and loosed all +who were in his jails. Then he held a second bridal for his son, and +the sound of the singing women and players upon instruments was never +silent for a whole month, and the tire women stinted not to adorn the +Lady Dunya and display her in various dresses; and she tired not of the +displaying nor did the women weary of gazing on her. Then Taj +al-Muluk, after having foregathered awhile with his father and mother, +took up his sojourn with his wife, and they abode in all joyance of +life and in fairest fortune, till there came to them the Destroyer of +all delights.[FN#57] Now when the Wazir Dandan had ended the tale of +Taj al-Muluk and the Lady Dunya, Zau al-Makan said to him, "Of a truth, +it is the like of thee who lighten the mourner's heart and who deserve +to be the boon companions of Kings and to guide their policy in the +right way." All this befel and they were still besieging +Constantinople, where they lay four whole years, till they yearned +after their native land; and the troops murmured, being weary of vigil +and besieging and the endurance of fray and foray by night and by day. +Then King Zau al-Makan summoned Rustam and Bahram and Tarkash, and when +they were in presence bespoke them thus, "Know that we have lain here +all these years and we have not won to our wish; nay, we have but +gained increase of care and concern; for indeed we came, thinking to +take our man bote for King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and in so doing my +brother Sharrkan was slain; so is our sorrow grown to sorrows twain and +our affliction to afflictions twain. All this came of the old woman +Zat al-Dawahi, for it was she who slew the Sultan in his kingdom and +carried off his wife, the Queen Sophia; nor did this suffice her, but +she must put another cheat on us and cut the throat of my brother +Sharrkan and indeed I have bound myself and sworn by the solemnest +oaths that there is no help but I take blood wit from her. What say +ye? Ponder my address and answer me." Then they bowed their heads and +answered, "It is for the Wazir Dandan to opine." So the Minister came +forward and said, "Know O King of the Age! it booteth us nought to +tarry here; and 'tis my counsel that we strike camp and return to our +own country, there to abide for a certain time and after that we should +return for a razzia upon the worshippers of idols." Replied the King, +"This rede is right, for indeed the folk weary for a sight of their +families, and I am an other who is also troubled with yearning after my +son Kanmakan and my brother 's daughter Kuzia Fakan, for she is in +Damascus and I know not how is her case." When the troops heard this +report, they rejoiced and blessed the Wazir Dandan. Then the King bade +the crier call the retreat after three days. They fell to preparing +for the march, and, on the fourth day, they beat the big drums and +unfurled the banners and the army set forth, the Wazir Danden in the +van and the King riding in the mid battle, with the Grand Chamberlain +by his side; and all journeyed without ceasing, night and day, till +they reached Baghdad city. The folk rejoiced in their return, and care +and fear ceased from them whilst the stay at homes met the absentees +and each Emir betook him to his own house. As for Zau al-Makan he +marched up to the Palace and went in to his son Kanmakan, who had now +reached the age of seven; and who used to go down to the weapon plain +and ride. As soon as the King was rested of his journey, he entered +the Hammam with his son, and returning, seated himself on his sofa of +state, whilst the Wazir Dandan took up his station before him and the +Emirs and Lords of the realm presented themselves and stood in +attendance upon him. Then Zau al-Makan called for his comrade, the +Fireman, who had befriended him in his wanderings; and, when he came +into presence, the King rose to do him honour and seated him by his +side. Now he had acquainted the Wazir with all the kindness and good +turns which the Stoker had done him; and he found that the wight had +waxed fat and burly with rest and good fare, so that his neck was like +an elephant's throat and his face like a dolphin's belly. Moreover, he +was grown dull of wit, for that he had never stirred from his place; so +at first he knew not the King by his aspect. But Zau al-Makan came up +to him smiling in his face, and greeted him after the friendliest +fashion, saying, "How soon hast thou forgotten me?" With this the +Fireman roused himself and, looking steadfastly at Zau al-Makan, made +sure that he knew him; whereupon he sprang hastily to his feet and +exclaimed, "O my friend, who hath made thee Sultan?" Then Zau al- Makan +laughed at him and the Wazir, coming up to him expounded the whole +story to him and said, "In good sooth he was thy brother and thy +friend; and now he is King of the land and needs must thou get great +good of him. So I charge thee, if he say, 'Ask a boon of me,' ask not +but for some great thing; for thou art very dear to him." Quoth the +Fireman, "I fear lest, if I ask of him aught, he may not choose to give +it or may not be able to grant it." Quoth the Wazir, "Have no care; +whatsoever thou askest he will give thee." Rejoined the Stoker, "By +Allah, I must at once ask of him a thing that is in my thought: every +night I dream of it and implore Almighty Allah to vouchsafe it to me." +Said the Wazir, "Take heart; by Allah, if thou ask of him the +government of Damascus, in place of his brother, he would surely give +it thee and make thee Governor." With this the Stoker rose to is feet +and Zau al-Makan signed to him to sit; but he refused, saying, "Allah +forfend! The days are gone by of my sitting in thy presence.' Answered +the Sultan, "Not so, they endure even now. Thou west in very deed the +cause that I am at present alive and, by Allah, whatever thing most +desired thou requirest of me, I will give that same to thee. But ask +thou first of Allah, and then of me!" He said, "O my lord, I fear" +"Fear not," quoth the Sultan He continued, "I fear to ask aught and +that thou shouldst refuse it to me and it is only" At this the King +laughed and replied, "If thou require of me the half of my kingdom I +would share it with thee: so ask what thou wilt and leave talking." +Repeated the Fireman "I fear" "Don't fear," quoth the King. He went +on, "I fear lest I ask a thing and thou be not able to grant it." Upon +this the Sultan waxed wroth and cried, "Ask what thou wilt." Then said +he, "I ask, first of Allah and then of thee, that thou write me a +patent of Syndicate over all the Firemen of the baths in the Holy City, +Jerusalem." The Sultan and all present laughed and Zau al-Makan said, +"Ask something more than this." He replied, "O my lord, said I not I +feared that thou wouldst not choose to give me what I should ask or +that thou be not able to grant it?" Therewith the Wazir signed him with +his foot once and twice and thrice, and every time he began, "I ask of +thee" Quoth the Sultan, "Ask and be speedy." So he said, "I ask thee to +make me Chief of the Scavengers in the Holy City of Jerusalem, or in. +Damascus town." Then all those who were present fell on their backs +with laughter and the Wazir beat him; whereupon he turned to the +Minister and said to him, "What art thou that thou shouldest beat me? +'Tis no fault of mine: didst thou not thyself bid me ask some important +thing?" And he added, "Let me go to my own land." With this, the Sultan +knew that he was jesting and took patience with him awhile; then turned +to him and said, "O my brother, ask of me some important thing, +befitting our dignity." So the Stoker said, "O King of the Age, I ask +first of Allah and then of thee, that thou make me Viceroy of Damascus +in the place of thy brother;" and the King replied, "Allah granteth +thee this." Thereupon the Fireman kissed ground before him and he bade +set him a chair in his rank and vested him with a viceroy's habit. +Then he wrote him a patent and sealed it with his own seal, and said to +the Wazir Dandan, "None shall go with him but thou; and when thou +makest the return journey, do thou bring with thee my brother's +daughter, Kuzia Fakan." "Hearken ing and obedience," answered the +Minister; and, taking the Fire man, went down with him and made ready +for the march. Then the King appointed for the Stoker servants and +suite, and gave him a new litter and a princely equipage and said to +the Emirs, "Whoso loveth me, let him honour this man and offer him a +handsome present." So each and every of the Emirs brought him his gift +according to his competence; and the King named him Zibl Khán,[FN#58] +and conferred on him the honourable surname of al- Mujáhid.[FN#59] As +soon as the gear was ready, he went up with the Wazir Dandan to the +King, that he might take leave of him and ask his permission to depart. + The King rose to him and embraced him, and charged him to do justice +between his subjects and bade him make ready for fight against the +Infidels after two years. Then they took leave of each other and the +King,[FN#60] the Fighter for the Faith highs Zibl Khan, having been +again exhorted by Zau al-Makan to deal fairly with his subjects, set +out on his journey, after the Emirs had brought him Mamelukes and +eunuchs, even to five thousand in number, who rode after him. The +Grand Chamberlain also took horse, as did Bahram, captain of the +Daylamites, and Rustam, captain of the Persians, and Tarkash, captain +of the Arabs, who attended to do him service; and they ceased not +riding with him three days' journey by way of honour. Then, taking +their leave of him, they returned to Baghdad and the Sultan Zibl Khan +and the Wazir Dandan fared on, with their suite and troops, till they +drew near Damascus. Now news was come, upon the wings of birds, to the +notables of Damascus, that King Zau al-Makan had made Sultan over +Damascus a King named Zibl Khan and surnamed Al-Mujahid; so when he +reached the city he found it dressed in his honour and everyone in the +place came out to gaze on him. The new Sultan entered Damascus in a +splendid progress and went up to the citadel, where he sat down upon +his chair of state, whilst the Wazir Dandan stood in attendance on him, +to acquaint him with the ranks of the Emirs and their stations. Then +the Grandees came in to him and kissed hands and called down blessings +on him. The new King, Zibl Khan, received them graciously and bestowed +on them dresses of honour and various presents and bounties; after +which he opened the treasuries and gave largesse to the troops, great +and small. Then he governed and did justice and proceeded to equip the +Lady Kuzia Fakan, daughter of King Sharrkan, appointing her a litter of +silken stuff. Moreover he furnished the Wazir Dandan equally well for +the return journey and offered him a gift of coin but he refused, +saying, "Thou art near the time appointed by the King, and haply thou +wilt have need of money, or after this we may send to seek of thee +funds for the Holy War or what not." Now when the Wazir was ready to +march, Sultan al-Mujahid mounted to bid the Minister farewell and +brought Kuzia Fakan to him, and made her enter the litter and sent with +her ten damsels to do her service. Thereupon they set forward, whilst +King "Fighter for the Faith" returned to his government that he might +order affairs and get ready his munitions of war, awaiting such time as +King Zau al- Makan should send a requisition to him. Such was the case +with Sultan Zibl Khan, but as regards the Wazir Dandan, he ceased not +faring forward and finishing off the stages, in company with Kuzia +Fakan till they came to Ruhbah[FN#61] after a month's travel and thence +pushed on, till he drew near Baghdad. Then he sent to announce his +arrival to King Zau al-Makan who, when he heard this, took horse and +rode out to meet him. The Wazir Dandan would have dismounted, but the +King conjured him not to do so and urged his steed till he came up to +his side. Then he questioned him of Zibl Khan highs Al-Mujahid, +whereto the Wazir replied that he was well and that he had brought with +him Kuzia Fakan the daughter of his brother. At this the King rejoiced +and said to Dandan, "Down with thee and rest thee from the fatigue of +the journey for three days, after which come to me again." Replied the +Wazir "With joy and gratitude," and betook himself to his own house, +whilst the King rode up to his Palace and went in to his brother's +daughter, Kuzia Fakan, a girl of eight years old. When he saw her, he +rejoiced in her and sorrowed for her sire; then he bade make for her +clothes and gave her splendid jewelry and ornaments, and ordered she be +lodged with his son Kanmakan in one place. So they both grew up the +brightest of the people of their time and the bravest; but Kuzia Fakan +became a maiden of good sense and understanding and knowledge of the +issues of events, whilst Kanmakan approved him a generous youth and +freehanded, taking no care in the issue of aught. And so they +continued till each of them attained the age of twelve. Now Kuzia Fakan +used to ride a horseback and fare forth with her cousin into the open +plain and push forward and range at large with him in the word; and +they both learnt to smite with swords and spike with spears. But when +they had reached the age of twelve, King Zau al-Makan, having completed +his preparations and provisions and munitions for Holy War, summoned +the Wazir Dandan and said to him, "Know that I have set mind on a +thing, which I will discover to thee, and I want shine opinion thereon; +so do thou with speed return me a reply." Asked the Wazir, "What is +that, O King of the Age?"; and the other answered, "I am resolved to +make my son Kanmakan Sultan and rejoice in him in my lifetime and do +battle before him till death overtake me. What reckest thou of this?" +The Wazir kissed the ground before the King and replied, "Know, O King +and Sultan mine, Lord of the Age and the time! that which is in thy +mind is indeed good, save that it is now no tide to carry it out, for +two reasons; the first, that thy son Kanmakan is yet of tender years; +and the second, that it often befalleth him who maketh his son King in +his life time, to live but a little while thereafterward.[FN#62] And +this is my reply." Rejoined the King, "Know, O Wazir that we will make +the Grand Chamberlain guardian over him, for he is now one of the +family and he married my sister, so that he is to me as a brother." +Quoth the Wazir, "Do what seemeth good to thee: we have only to obey +thine orders." Then the King sent for the Grand Chamberlain whom they +brought into the presence together with the Lords of the realm and he +said to them, "Ye know that this my son Kanmakan is the first cavalier +of the age, and that he hath no peer in striking with the sword and +lunging with the lance; and now I appoint him to be Sultan over you and +I make the Grand Chamberlain, his uncle, guardian over him." Replied +the Chamberlain, "I am but a tree which thy bounty hath planted"; and +Zau al-Makan said, "O Chamberlain, verily this my son Kanmakan and my +niece Kuzia Fakan are brothers' children; so I hereby marry her to him +and I call those present to witness thereof." Then he made over to his +son such treasures as no tongue can describe, and going in to his +sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, told her what he had done, whereat she was a +glad woman and said, "Verily the twain are my children: Allah preserve +thee to them and keep thy life for them many a year!" Replied he, "O my +sister, I have accomplished in this world all my heart desired and I +have no fear for my son! yet it were well thou have an eye on him, and +an eye on his mother." And he charged the Chamberlain and Nuzhat +al-Zaman with the care of his son and niece and wife, and this he +continued to do nights and days till he fell sick and deemed surely +that he was about to drink the cup of death; so he took to his bed, +whilst the Chamberlain busied himself with ordering the folk and realm. + At the end of the year, the King summoned his son Kanmakan and the +Wazir Dandan and said, "O my son, after my death this Wazir is thy +sire; for know that I am about to leave this house of life transitory +for the house of eternity. And indeed I have fulfilled my will of this +world; yet there remaineth in my heart one regret which may Allah +dispel through and by thy hands." Asked his son, "What regret is that, +O my father?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "O my son, the sole regret of me +is that I die without having avenged thy grandfather, Omar bin +al-Nu'uman, and thine uncle, Sharrkan, on an old woman whom they call +Zat al-Dawahi; but, if Allah grant thee aid, sleep not till thou take +thy wreak on her, and so wipe out the shame we have suffered at the +Infidel's hands; and beware of the old hag's wile and do what the Wazir +Dandan shall advise thee; because he from old time hath been the pillar +of our realm." And his son assented to what he said. Then the King's +eyes ran over with tears and his sickness redoubled on him; whereupon +his brother in law, the Chamberlain took charge over the country and, +being a capable man, he judged and bade and forbade for the whole of +that year, while Zau al-Makan was occupied with his malady. And his +sickness was sore upon him for four years, during which the Chief +Chamberlain sat in his stead and gave full satisfaction to the commons +and the nobles; and all the country blessed his rule. Such was the case +with Zau al-Makan and the Chamberlain, but as regards the King's son, +he busied himself only with riding and lunging with lance and shooting +with shaft, and thus also did the daughter of his uncle, Kuzia Fakan; +for he and she were wont to fare forth at the first of the day and +return at nightfall, when she would go in to her mother, and he would +go in to his mother whom he ever found sitting in tears by the head of +his father's couch. Then he would tend his father all night long till +daybreak, when he would go forth again with his cousin according to +their wont. Now Zau al-Makan's pains and sufferings were lonesome upon +him and he wept and began versifying with these couplets, + +"Gone is my strength, told is my tale of days * + And, lookye! I am left as thou dost see: +In honour's day most honoured wont to be, * + And win the race from all my company +Would Heaven before my death I might behold * + My son in seat of empire sit for me +And rush upon his foes, to take his wreak * + With sway of sword and lance lunged gallantly: +In this world and the next I am undone, * + Except the Lord vouchsafe me clemency." + +When he had ended repeating these verses, he laid his head on his +pillow and closed his eyes and slept. Then saw he in his sleep one who +said to him, "Rejoice, for thy son shall fill the lands with justest +sway; and he shall rule them and him shall the lieges obey."; Then he +awoke from his dream gladdened by the good tidings he had seen, and +after a few days, Death smote him, and because of his dying great grief +fell on the people of Baghdad, and simple and gentle mourned for him. +But Time passed over him, as though he had never been[FN#63] and +Kanmakan's estate was changed; for the people of Baghdad set him aside +and put him and his family in a place apart. Now when his mother saw +this, she fell into the sorriest of plights and said, "There is no help +but that I go to the Grand Chamberlain, and I must hope for the aidance +of the Subtle, the All-Wise!" Then she rose from her place and betook +herself to the house of the Chamberlain who was now become Sultan, and +she found him sitting upon his carpet. So she went in to his wife, +Nuzhat al-Zaman, and wept with sore weeping and said unto her, "Verily +the dead hath no friend! May Allah never bring you to want as long as +your age and the years endure, and may you cease not to rule justly +over rich and poor. Thine ears have heard and thine eyes have seen all +that was ours of kingship and honour and dignity and wealth and fair +fortune of life and condition; and now Time hath turned upon us, and +fate and the world have betrayed us and wrought in hostile way with us, +wherefore I come to thee craving thy favours, I from whom favours were +craved: for when a man dieth, women and maidens are brought to +despisal." And she repeated these couplets, + +"Suffice thee Death such marvels can enhance, * + And severed lives make lasting severance: +Man's days are marvels, and their stations are * + But water-pits[FN#64] of misery and mischance. +Naught wrings my heart save loss of noble friends, * + Girt round by rings of hard, harsh circumstance." + +When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard these words, she remembered her brother, Zau +al-Makan, and his son Kanmakan, and, making her draw near to her and +showing her honour, she said, "Verily at this moment, by Allah, I am +grown rich and thou art poor; now by the Lord! we did not cease to +seek thee out, but we feared to wound thy heart lest thou shouldest +fancy our gifts to thee an alms gift. Withal, whatso weal we now enjoy +is from thee and thy husband; so our house is thy house and our place +thy place, and thine is all our wealth and what goods we have belong to +thee." Then she robed her in sumptuous robes and set apart for her a +place in the Palace adjoining her own; and they abode therein, she and +her son, in all delight of life. And Nuzhat al-Zaman clothed him also +in Kings' raiment and gave to them both especial handmaids for their +service. After a little, she related to her husband the sad case of +the widow of her brother, Zau al-Makan, whereat his eyes filled with +tears and he said, "Wouldest thou see the world after thee, look thou +upon the world after other than thyself. Then entreat her honourably +and enrich her poverty."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When It was the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat +Al-Zaman related to her husband the sad case of the widow of her +brother, Zau al-Makan, the Chamberlain said, "Entreat her honourably +and enrich her poverty." Thus far concerning Nuzhat al-Zaman and her +consort and the relict of Zau al-Makan; but as regards Kanmakan and his +cousin Kuzia Fakan, they grew up and flourished till they waxed like +unto two fruit-laden boughs or two shining moons; and they reached the +age of fifteen. And she was indeed the fairest of maids who are +modestly veiled, lovely faced with smooth cheeks graced, and slender +waist on heavy hips based; and her shape was the shaft's thin line and +her lips were sweeter than old wine and the nectar of her mouth as it +were the fountain Salsabíl[FN#65]; even as saith the poet in these two +couplets describing one like her, + +"As though ptisane of wine on her lips honey dew * + Dropt from the ripened grapes her mouth in clusters grew +And, when her frame thou doublest, and low bends her vine, * + Praise her Creator's might no creature ever knew." + +Of a truth Allah had united in her every charm: her shape would shame +the branch of waving tree and the rose before her cheeks craved lenity; +and the honey dew of her lips of wine made jeer, however old and clear, +and she gladdened heart and beholder with joyous cheer, even as saith +of her the poet, + +"Goodly of gifts is she, and charm those perfect eyes, * + With lashes shaming Kohl and all the fair ones Kohl'd[FN#66] +And from those eyne the glances pierce the lover's heart, * + Like sword in Mír al-Muminína Ali's hold." + +And (the relator continueth) as for Kanmakan, he became unique in +loveliness and excelling in perfection no less; none could even him in +qualities as in seemliness and the sheen of velour between his eyes was +espied, testifying for him while against him it never testified. The +hardest hearts inclined to his side; his eyelids bore lashes black as +by Kohl; and he was of surpassing worth in body and soul. And when the +down of lips and cheeks began to sprout bards and poets sang for him +far and near, + +"Appeared not my excuse till hair had clothed his cheek, * + And gloom o'ercrept that side-face (sight to stagger!) +A fawn, when eyes would batten on his charms, * + Each glance deals thrust like point of Khanjar-dagger." + +And saith another, + +"His lovers' souls have drawn upon his cheek * + An ant that perfected its rosy light: +I marvel at such martyrs Lazá-pent * + Who yet with greeny robes of Heaven are dight.''[FN#67] + +Now it chanced one holiday, that Kuzia Fakan fared forth to make +festival with certain kindred of the court, and she went surrounded by +her handmaids. And indeed beauty encompassed her, the roses of her +cheeks dealt envy to their mole; from out her smiling lips levee +flashed white, gleaming like the chamomile[FN#68]; and Kanmakan began +to turn about her and devour her with his sight, for she was the moon +of resplendent light. Then he took heart and giving his tongue a start +began to improvise, + +"When shall the disappointed heart be healed of severance, * + And lips of Union smile at ceasing of our hard mischance? +Would Heaven I knew shall come some night, and with it surely + bring * Meeting with friend who like myself endureth + sufferance."[FN#69] + +When Kuzia Fakan heard these couplets, she showed vexation and +disapproval and, putting on a haughty and angry air, said to him, "Dost +thou name me in thy verse, to shame me amongst folk? By Allah, if thou +turn not from this talk, I will assuredly complain of thee to the Grand +Chamberlain, Sultan of Khorasan and Baghdad and lord of justice and +equity; that disgrace and punishment may befal thee!" Kanmakan made no +reply for anger but he returned to Baghdad; and Kuzia Fakan also +returned to her palace and complained of her cousin to her mother, who +said to her, "O my daughter, haply he meant thee no harm, and is he +aught but an orphan? Withal, he said nought of reproach to thee; so +beware thou tell none of this, lest perchance it come to e Sultan's +ears and he cut short his life and blot out his name and make it even +as yesterday, whose memory hath passed away." However, Kanmakan's love +for Kuzia Fakan spread abroad in Baghdad, so that the women talked of +it. Moreover, his breast became straitened and his patience waned and +he knew not what to do, yet he could not hide his condition from the +world. Then longed he to give vent to the pangs he endured, by reason +of the lowe of separation; but he feared her rebuke and her wrath; so +he began improvising, + +"Now is my dread to incur reproaches, which * + Disturb her temper and her mind obscure, +Patient I'll bear them; e'en as generous youth his case to + cure.'' * Beareth the burn of brand his case to + cure."[FN#70] + +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Grand +Chamberlain became Sultan they named him King Sásán; and after he had +assumed the throne he governed the people in righteous way. Now as he +was giving audience one day, Kanmakan's verses came to his knowledge. +Thereupon he repented him of the past and going in to his wife Nuzhat +al-Zaman, said to her, "Verily, to join Halfah grass and fire,[FN#71] +is the greatest of risks, and man may not be trusted with woman, so +long as eye glanceth and eyelid quivereth. Now thy brother's son, +Kanmakan, is come to man's estate and it behoveth us to forbid him +access to the rooms where anklets trinkle, and it is yet more needful +to forbid thy daughter the company of men, for the like of her should +be kept in the Harim." Replied she, "Thou sayest sooth, O wise King!" +Next day came Kanmakan according to his wont; and, going in to his aunt +saluted her. She returned his salutation and said to him, "O my son! +I have some what to say to thee which I would fain leave unsaid; yet I +must tell it thee despite my inclination." Quoth he, "Speak;" and quoth +she, Know then that thy sire the Chamberlain, the father of Kuzia +Fakan, hath heard of the verses thou madest anent her, and hath ordered +that she be kept in the Harim and out of thy reach; if therefore, O my +son, thou want anything from us, I will send it to thee from behind the +door; and thou shalt not look upon Kuzia Fakan nor shalt thou return +hither from this day forth." When he heard this he arose and withdrew +with out speaking a single word; and, betaking himself to his mother +related what his aunt had said. She observed, "This all cometh of +thine overtalking. Thou knowest that the news of thy passion for Kuzia +Fakan is noised abroad and the tattle hath spread everywhere how thou +eatest their food and thereafter thou courtest their daughter." +Rejoined he, "And who should have her but I? She is the daughter of my +father's brother and I have the best of rights to her." Retorted his +mother, "These are idle words. Be silent, lest haply thy talk come to +King Sasan's ears and it prove the cause of thy losing her and the +reason of thy ruin and increase of thine affliction. They have not sent +us any supper to-night and we shall die an hungered; and were we in any +land but this, we were already dead of famine or of shame for begging +our bread." When Kanmakan heard these words from his mother, his +regrets redoubled; his eyes ran over with tears and he complained and +began improvising, + +"Minish this blame I ever bear from you: * + My heart loves her to whom all love is due: +Ask not from me of patience jot or little, * + Divorce of Patience by God's House! I rue: +What blamers preach of patience I unheed; * + Here am I, love path firmly to pursue! +Indeed they bar me access to my love, * + Here am I by God's ruth no ill I sue! +Good sooth my bones, whenas they hear thy name, * + Quail as birds quailed when Nisus o'er them flew:[FN#72] +Ah! say to them who blame my love that I * + Will love that face fair cousin till I die." + +And when he had ended his verses he said to his mother, "I have no +longer a place in my aunt's house nor among these people, but I will go +forth from the palace and abide in the corners of the city." So he and +his mother left the court; and, having sought an abode in the +neighbourhood of the poorer sort, there settled; but she used to go +from time to time to King Sasan's palace and thence take daily bread +for herself and her son. As this went on Kuzia Fakan took her aside +one day and said to her, "Alas, O my naunty, how is it with thy son?" +Replied she, "O my daughter, sooth to say, he is tearful-eyed and heavy +hearted, being fallen into the net of thy love." And she repeated to +her the couplets he had made; whereupon Kuzia Fakan wept and said, "By +Allah! I rebuked him not for his words, nor for ill-will to him, but +because I feared for him the malice of foes. Indeed my passion for him +is double that he feeleth for me; my tongue may not describe my +yearning for him; and were it not for the extravagant wilfulness of his +words and the wanderings of his wit, my father had not cut off from him +favours that besit, nor had decreed unto him exclusion and prohibition +as fit. However, man's days bring nought but change, and patience in +all case is most becoming: peradventure He who ordained our severance +will vouchsafe us reunion!" And she began versifying in these two +couplets, + +"O son of mine uncle! same sorrow I bear, * + And suffer the like of thy cark and thy care +Yet hide I from man what I suffer for pine; * + Hide it too, and such secret to man never bare!" + +When his mother heard this from her, she thanked her and blessed her: +then she left her and acquainted her son with what she had said; +whereupon his desire for her increased and he took heart, being eased +of his despair and the turmoil of his love and care. And he said, "By +Allah, I desire none but her!"; and he began improvising, + +"Leave this blame, I will list to no flout of my foe! * + I divulged a secret was told me to keep: +He is lost to my sight for whose union I yearn, * + And I watch all the while he can slumber and sleep." + +So the days and nights went by whilst Kanmakan lay tossing upon coals +of fire,[FN#73] till he reached the age of seventeen; and his beauty +had waxt perfect and his wits were at their brightest. One night, as he +lay awake, he communed with himself and said, "Why should I keep +silence till I waste away and see not my lover? Fault have I none save +poverty; so, by Allah, I am resolved to remove me from this region and +wander over the wild and the word; for my position in this city is a +torture and I have no friend nor lover therein to comfort me; wherefore +I am determined to distract myself by absence from my native land till +I die and take my rest after this shame and tribulation." And he began +to improvise and recited these couplets, + +"Albeit my vitals quiver 'neath this ban; * + Before the foe myself I'll ne'er unman! +So pardon me, my vitals are a writ * + Whose superscription are my tears that ran: +Heigh ho! my cousin seemeth Houri may * + Come down to earth by reason of Rizwan: +'Scapes not the dreadful sword lunge of her look * + Who dares the glancing of those eyne to scan: +O'er Allah's wide spread world I'll roam and roam, * + And from such exile win what bread I can +Yes, o'er broad earth I'll roam and save my soul, * + All but her absence bear ing like a man +With gladsome heart I'll haunt the field of fight, * + And meet the bravest Brave in battle van!" + +So Kanmakan fared forth from the palace barefoot and he walked in a +short sleeved gown, wearing on his head a skull cap of felt[FN#74] +seven years old and carrying a scone three days stale, and in the deep +glooms of night betook himself to the portal of al-Arij of Baghdad. +Here he waited for the gate being opened and when it was opened, he was +the first to pass through it; and he went out at random and wandered +about the wastes night and day. When the dark hours came, his mother +sought him but found him not; whereupon the world waxt strait upon her +for all that it was great and wide, and she took no delight in aught of +weal it supplied. She looked for him a first day and a second day and +a third day till ten days were past, but no news of him reached her. +Then her breast became contracted and she shrieked and shrilled, +saying, "O my son! O my darling! thou hast revived my regrets. +Sufficed not what I endured, but thou must depart from my home? After +thee I care not for food nor joy in sleep, and naught but tears and +mourning are left me. O my son, from what land shall I call thee? And +what town hath given thee refuge?" Then her sobs burst out, and she +began repeating these couplets, + +"Well learnt we, since you left, our grief and sorrow to + sustain, * While bows of severance shot their shafts in + many a railing rain: +They left me, after girthing on their selles of corduwayne * + To fight the very pangs of death while spanned they sandy + plain: +Mysterious through the nightly gloom there came the moan of + dove; * A ring dove, and replied I, 'Cease thy plaint, how + durst complain?' +If, by my life, her heart, like mine, were full of pain and + pine * She had not decks her neck with ring nor sole with + ruddy stain.[FN#75] +Fled is mine own familiar friend, bequeathing me a store * + Of parting pang and absence ache to suffer evermore." + +Then she abstained from food and drink and gave herself up to excessive +tear shedding and lamentation. Her grief became public property far +and wide and all the people of the town and country side wept with her +and cried, "Where is thine eye, O Zau al- Makan?" And they bewailed the +rigours of Time, saying, "Would Heaven we knew what hath befallen +Kanmakan that he fled his native town, and chased himself from the +place where his father used to fill all in hungry case and do justice +and grace?" And his mother redoubled her weeping and wailing till the +news of Kanmakan's departure came to King Sasan.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fortieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that came to King +Sasan the tidings of the departure of Kanmakan, through the Chief Emirs +who said to him, "Verily he is the son of our Sovran and the seed of +King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and it hath reached us that he hath exiled +himself from the land." When King Sasan heard these words, he was wroth +with them and ordered one of them to be hanged by way of silencing him, +whereat the fear of him fell upon the hearts of all the other Grandees +and they dared not speak one word. Then he called to mind all the +kindness that Zau al-Makan had done him, and how he had charged him +with the care of his son; wherefore he grieved for Kanmakan and said, +"Needs must I have search made for him in all countries." So he +summoned Tarkash and bade him choose an hundred horse and wend with +them in quest of the Prince. Accordingly he went out and was absent +ten days, after which he returned and said, "I can learn no tidings of +him and have hit on no trace of him, nor can any tell me aught of him." +Upon this King Sasan repented him of that which he had done by the +Prince; whilst his mother abode in unrest continual nor would patience +come at her call: and thus passed over her twenty days in heaviness +all. This is how it fared with these; but as regards Kanmakan, when he +left Baghdad, he went forth perplexed about his case and knowing not +whither he should go: so he fared on alone through the desert for three +days and saw neither footman nor horseman; withal, his sleep fled and +his wakefulness redoubled, for he pined after his people and his +homestead. He ate of the herbs of the earth and drank of its flowing +waters and siesta'd under its trees at hours of noontide heats, till he +turned from that road to another way and, following it other three +days, came on the fourth to a land of green leas, dyed with the hues of +plants and trees and with sloping valley sides made to please, +abounding with the fruits of the earth. It had drunken of the cups of +the cloud, to the sound of thunders rolling loud and the song of the +turtle-dove gently sough'd, till its hill slopes were brightly verdant +and its fields were sweetly fragrant. Then Kanmakan recalled his +father's city Baghdad, and for excess of emotion he broke out into +verse, + +"I roam, and roaming hope I to return; * + Yet of returning see not how or when: +I went for love of one I could not win, * + Nor way of 'scaping ills that pressed could ken." + +When he ended his recital he wept, but presently he wiped away his +tears and ate of the fruits of the earth enough for his present need. +Then he made the Wuzu-ablution and prayed the ordained prayers which he +had neglected all this time; and he sat resting in that place through +the livelong day. When night came he slept and ceased not sleeping +till midnight, when he awoke and heard a human voice declaiming these +couplets, + +"What's life to me, unless I see the pearly sheen * + Of teeth I love, and sight that glorious mien? +Pray for her Bishops who in convents reign, * + Vying to bow before that heavenly queen. +And Death is lighter than the loved one's wrath, * + Whose phantom haunts me seen in every scene: +O joy of cup companions, when they meet, * + And loved and lover o'er each other lean! +E'en more in time of spring, the lord of flowers, * + When fragrant is the world with bloom and green: +Drainer of vine-juice! up wi' thee, for now * + Earth is a Heaven where sweet waters flow.[FN#76]" + +When Kanmakan heard these distichs his sorrows surged up; his tears ran +down his cheeks like freshets and flames of fire darted into his heart. + So he rose to see who it was that spake these words, but saw none for +the thickness of the gloom; whereupon passion increased on him and he +was frightened and restlessness possessed him. He descended from his +place to the sole of the valley and walked along the banks of the +stream, till he heard the same voice sighing heavy sighs and reciting +these couplets, + +"Tho' 'tis thy wont to hide thy love perforce, * + Yet weep on day of parting and divorce! +Twixt me and my dear love were plighted vows; * + Pledge of reunion, fonder intercourse: +With joy inspires my heart and deals it rest * + Zephyr, whose coolness doth desire enforce. +O Sa'adá,[FN#77] thinks of me that anklet wearer? * + Or parting broke she troth without remorse? +And say! shall nights foregather us, and we * + Of suffered hardships tell in soft discourse? +Quoth she, 'Thou'rt daft for us and fey'; quoth I, * + ' 'Sain thee! how many a friend hast turned to corse!' +If taste mine eyes sweet sleep while she's away, * + Allah with loss of her these eyne accurse. +O wounds in vitals mine! for cure they lack * + Union and dewy lips' sweet theriack."[FN#78] + +When Kanmakan heard this verse again spoken by the same voice yet saw +no one, he knew that the speaker was a lover like unto himself, +debarred from union with her who loved him; and he said to himself, +"'Twere fitting that this man should lay his head to my head and become +my comrade in this my strangerhood."[FN#79] Then he hailed the speaker +and cried out to him, saying, "O thou who farest in sombrest night, +draw near to me and tell me thy tale haply thou shalt find me one who +will succour thee in thy sufferings." And when the owner of the voice +heard these words, he cried out, "O thou that respondest to my +complaint and wouldest hear my history, who art thou amongst the +knights? Art thou human or Jinni? Answer me speedily ere thy death +draw near for I have wandered in this desert some twenty days and have +seen no one nor heard any voice but thy voice." At these words Kanmakan +said to himself, "This one's case is like my case, for I, even I, have +wandered twenty days, nor during my wayfare have I seen man or heard +voice:" and he added, "I will make him no answer till day arise." So he +was silent, and the voice again called out to him, saying, "O thou that +callest, if thou be of the Jinn fare in peace and, if thou be man, stay +awhile till the day break stark and the night flee with the dark." The +speaker abode in his place and Kanmakan did likewise and the twain in +reciting verses never failed, and wept tears that railed till the light +of day began loom and the night departed with its gloom. Then Kanmakan +looked at the other and found him to be of the Badawi Arabs, a youth in +the flower of his age; clad in worn clothes and bearing in baldrick a +rusty sword which he kept sheathed, and the signs of love longing were +apparent on him. He went up to him and accosted him and saluted him, +and the Badawi returned the salute and greeted him with courteous +wishes for his long life, but somewhat despised him, seeing his tender +years and his condition, which was that of a pauper. So he said to +him, "O youth, of what tribe art thou and to whom art thou kin among +the Arabs; and what is thy history that thou goest by night, after the +fashion of knights? Indeed thou spakest to me in the dark words such +as are spoken of none but doughty cavaliers and lion- like warriors; +and now I hold thy life in hand. But I have compassion on thee by +reason of thy green years; so I will make thee my companion and thou +shalt go with me, to do me service." When Kanmakan heard him speak +these unseemly words, after showing him such skill in verse, he knew +that he despised him and would presume with him; therefore he answered +him with soft and well- chosen speech, saying, "O Chief of the Arabs, +leave my tenderness of age and tell me why thou wanderest by night in +the desert reciting verses. Thou talkest, I see, of my serving thee; +who then art thou and what moved thee to talk this wise?" Answered he, +"Hark ye, boy! I am Sabbáh, son of Rammáh bin Humám.[FN#80] My people +are of the Arabs of Syria and I have a cousin, Najmah highs, who to all +that look on her brings delight. And when my father died I was brought +up in the house of his brother, the father of Najmah; but as soon I +grew up and my uncle's daughter became a woman, they secluded her from +me and me from her, seeing that I was poor and without money in pouch. +Then the Chiefs of the Arabs and the heads of the tribes rebuked her +sire, and he was abashed before them and consented to give me my +cousin, but upon condition that I should bring him as her dower fifty +head of horses and fifty dromedaries which travel ten days[FN#81] +without a halt and fifty camels laden with wheat and a like number +laden with barley, together with ten black slaves and ten handmaids. +Thus the weight he set upon me was beyond my power to bear; for he +exacted more than the marriage settlement as by law established. So +here am I, travelling from Syria to Irak, and I have passed twenty days +with out seeing other than thyself; yet I mean to go to Baghdad that I +may ascertain what merchant men of wealth and importance start thence. +Then will I fare forth in their track and loot their goods, and I will +slay their escort and drive off their camels with their loads. But +what manner of man art thou?" Replied Kanmakan, "Thy case is like unto +my case, save that my evil is more grievous than thine ill; for my +cousin is a King's daughter and the dowry of which thou hast spoken +would not content her people, nor would they be satisfied with the like +of that from me." Quoth Sabbah, "Surely thou art a fool or thy wits for +excess of passion are gathering wool! How can thy cousin be a King's +daughter? Thou hast no sign of royal rank on thee, for thou art but a +mendicant." Re joined Kanmakan, "O Chief of the Arabs, let not this my +case seem strange to thee; for what happened, happened;[FN#82] and if +thou desire proof of me, I am Kanmakan, son of King Zau al-Makan, son +of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman Lord of Baghdad and the realm Khorasan; and +Fortune banned me with her tyrant ban, for my father died and my +Sultanate was taken by King Sasan. So I fled forth from Baghdad +secretly, lest I be seen of any man, and have wandered twenty days +without any but thyself to scan. So now I have discovered to thee my +case, and my story is as thy story and my need as thy need." When +Sabbab heard this, he cried out, "O my joy, I have attained my desire! +I will have no loot this day but thy self; for since thou art of the +seed of Kings and hast come out in beggar's garb, there is no help but +thy people will seek thee; and, if they find thee in any one's power, +they will ransom thee with monies galore. So show me thy back, O my +lad, and walk before me." Answered Kanmakan, "O brother of the Arabs, +act not on this wise, for my people will not buy me with silver nor +with gold, not even with a copper dirham; and I am a poor man, having +with me neither much nor little, so cease then to be upon this track +and take me to thy comrade. Fare we forth for the land of Irak and +wander over the world, so haply we may win dower and marriage portion, +and we may seek and enjoy our cousins' kisses and embraces when we come +back." Hearing this, Sabbah waxed angry; his arrogance and fury +redoubled and he said, "Woe to thee! Dost thou bandy words with me, O +vilest of dogs that be? Turn thee thy back, or I will come down on thee +with clack!" Kanmakan smiled and answered, "Why should I turn my back +for thee? Is there no justice in thee? Dost thou not fear to bring +blame upon the Arab men by driving a man like myself captive, in shame +and disdain, before thou hast proved him on the plain, to know if he be +a warrior or of cowardly strain?" Upon this Sabbah laughed and replied, +"By Allah, a wonder! Thou art a boy in years told, but in talk thou +art old. These words should come from none but a champion doughty and +bold: what wantest thou of justice?" Quoth Kanmakan, "If thou wilt have +me thy captive, to wend with thee and serve thee, throw down thine arms +and put off thine outer gear and come on and wrestle with me; and +whichever of us throw his opponent shall have his will of him and make +him his boy." Then Sabbah laughed and said, "I think this waste of +breath de noteth the nearness of thy death." Then he arose and threw +down his weapon and, tucking up his skirt, drew near unto Kanmakan who +also drew near and they gripped each other. But the Badawi found that +the other had the better of him and weighed him down as the quintal +downweighs the diner; and he looked at his legs firmly planted on the +ground, and saw that they were as two minarets[FN#83] strongly based, +or two tent-poles in earth encased, or two mountains which may not he +displaced. So he acknowledged himself to be a failure and repented of +having come to wrestle with him, saying in himself, "Would I had slain +him with my weapon!" Then Kanmakan took hold of him and mastering him, +shook him till the Badawi thought his bowels would burst in his belly, +and he broke out, "Hold thy hand, O boy!" He heeded not his words, but +shook him again and, lifting him from the ground, made with him towards +the stream, that he might throw him therein: where upon the Badawi +roared out, saying, "O thou valiant man, what wilt thou do with +me?"[FN#84] Quoth he, "I mean to throw thee into this stream: it will +bear thee to the Tigris. The Tigris will bring thee to the river Isa +and the Isa will carry thee to the Euphrates, and the Euphrates will +land thee in shine own country; so thy tribe shall see thee and know +thy manly cheer and how thy passion be sincere." Then Sabbah cried +aloud and said, "O Champion of the desert lair, do not with me what +deed the wicked dare but let me go, by the life of thy cousin, the +jewel of the fair!" Hearing this, Kanmakan set him on the ground, but +when he found him self at liberty, he ran to his sword and targe and +taking them up stood plotting in himself treachery and sudden assault +on his adversary.[FN#85] The Prince kenned his intent in his eye and +said to him, "I con what is in thy heart, now thou hast hold of thy +sword and thy targe. Thou hast neither length of hand nor trick of +wrestling, but thou thinkest that, wert thou on thy mare and couldst +wheel about the plain, and ply me with thy skene, I had long ago been +slain. But I will give thee thy requite, so there may be left in thy +heart no despite; now give me the targe and fall on me with thy +whinger; either thou shalt kill me or I shall kill thee." "Here it is," +answered Sabbah and, throwing him the targe, bared his brand and rushed +at him sword in hand; Kanmakan hent the buckler in his right and began +to fend himself with it, whilst Sabbah struck at him, saying at each +stroke, "This is the finishing blow!" But it fell harmless enow, for +Kanmakan took all on his buckler and it was waste work, though he did +not reply lacking the wherewithal to strike and Sabbah ceased not to +smite at him with his sabre, till his arm was weary. When his opponent +saw this, he rushed upon him and, hugging him in his arms, shook him +and threw him to the ground. Then he turned him over on his face and +pinioned his elbows behind him with the baldrick of his sword, and +began to drag him by the feet and to make for the river. Thereupon +cried Sabbah, "What wilt thou do with me, O youth, and cavalier of the +age and brave of the plain where battles rage?" Answered he, "Did I not +tell thee that it was my intent to send thee by the river to thy kin +and to thy tribe, that thy heart be not troubled for them nor their +hearts be troubled for thee, and lest thou miss thy cousin's +bride-feast!" At this Sabbah shrieked aloud and wept and screaming +said, "Do not thus, O champion of the time's braves! Let me go and +make me one of thy slaves!" And he wept and wailed and began reciting +these verses, + +"I'm estranged fro' my folk and estrangement's long: * + Shall I die amid strangers? Ah, would that I kenned! +I die, nor my kinsman shall know where I'm slain, * + Die in exile nor see the dear face of my friend!" + +Thereupon Kanmakan had compassion on him and said, "Make with me a +covenant true and swear me an oath to be a comrade as due and to bear +me company wheresoever I may go." "'Tis well," replied Sabbah and swore +accordingly. Then Kanmakan loosed him and he rose and would have +kissed the Prince's hand; but he forbade him that. Then the Badawi +opened his scrip and, taking out three barley scones, laid them before +Kanmakan and they both sat down on the bank of the stream to +eat.[FN#86] When they had done eating together, they made the lesser +ablution and prayed; after which they sat talking of what had befallen +each of them from his people and from the shifts of Time. Presently +said Kanmakan, "Whither dost thou now intend?" Replied Sabbah, "I +purpose to repair to Baghdad, thy native town, and abide there, until +Allah vouchsafe me the marriage portion." Rejoined the other, "Up then +and to the road! I tarry here." So the Badawi farewelled him and took +the way for Baghdad, whilst Kanmakan remained behind, saying to +himself, "O my soul, with what face shall I return pauper- poor? Now +by Allah, I will not go back empty handed and, if the Almighty please, +I will assuredly work my deliverance." Then he went to the stream and +made the Wuzu-washing and when prostrating he laid his brow in the dust +and prayed to the Lord, saying, "O Allah! Thou who sendest down the +dew, and feedest the worm that homes in the stone, I beseech Thee +vouchsafe me my livelihood of Thine Omnipotence and the Grace of Thy +benevolence!" Then he pronounced the salutation which closes prayer; +yet every road appeared closed to him. And while he sat turning right +and left, behold, he espied a horseman making towards him with bent +back and reins slack. He sat up right and after a time reached the +Prince; and the stranger was at the last gasp and made sure of death, +for he was grievously wounded when he came up; the tears streamed down +his cheeks like water from the mouths of skins, and he said to +Kanmakan, "O Chief of the Arabs, take me to thy friendship as long as I +live, for thou wilt not find my like; and give me a little water though +the drinking of water be harmful to one wounded, especially whilst the +blood is flowing and the life with it. And if I live, I will give thee +what shall heal thy penury and thy poverty: and if I die, mayst thou be +blessed for thy good intent." Now under that horseman was a stallion, +so noble a Rabite[FN#87] the tongue fails to describe him; and as +Kanmakan looked at his legs like marble shafts, he was seized with a +longing and said to himself, "Verily the like of this stallion[FN#88] +is not to be found in our time." Then he helped the rider to alight and +entreated him in friendly guise and gave him a little water to swallow; +after which he waited till he had taken rest and addressed him, saying, +"Who hath dealt thus with thee?" Quoth the rider, "I will tell thee the +truth of the case. I am a horse thief and I have busied myself with +lifting and snatching horses all my life, night and day, and my name is +Ghassan, the plague of every stable and stallion. I heard tell of this +horse, that he was in the land of Roum, with King Afridun, where they +had named him Al-Katúl and surnamed him Al Majnún.[FN#89] So I +journeyed to Constantinople for his sake and watched my opportunity and +whilst I was thus waiting, there came out an old woman, one highly +honoured among the Greeks, and whose word with them is law, by name Zat +al-Dawahi, a past mistress in all manner of trickery. She had with her +this steed and ten slaves, no more, to attend on her and the horse; and +she was bound for Baghdad and Khorasan, there to seek King Sasan and to +sue for peace and pardon from ban. So I went out in their track, +longing to get at the horse,[FN#90] and ceased not to follow them, but +was unable to come by the stallion, because of the strict guard kept by +the slaves, till they reached this country and I feared lest they enter +the city of Baghdad. As I was casting about to steal the stallion lo! +a great cloud of dust arose on them and walled the horizon. Presently +it opened and disclosed fifty horsemen, gathered together to waylay +merchants on the highway, and their captain, by name Kahrdash, was a +lion in daring and dash; a furious lion who layeth knights flat as +carpets in battle-crash."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Forty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the wounded rider +spake thus to Kanmakan, "Then came out the same Kahrdash, and fell on +the old woman and her men and bore down upon them bashing them, nor was +it long before they bound her and the ten slaves and bore off their +captives and the horse, rejoicing. When I saw this, I said to myself, +'My pains were in vain nor did I attain my gain.' However, I waited to +see how the affair would fare, and when the old woman found herself in +bonds, she wept and said to the captain, Kahrdash, 'O thou doughty +Champion and furious Knight, what wilt thou do with an old woman and +slaves, now that thou hast thy will of the horse?' And she beguiled him +with soft words and she sware that she would send him horses and +cattle, till he released her and her slaves. Then he went his way, he +and his comrades, and I followed them till they reached this country; +and I watched them, till at last I found an opportunity of stealing the +horse, whereupon I mounted him and, drawing a whip from my wallet, +struck him with it. When the robbers heard this, they came out on me +and surrounded me on all sides and shot arrows and cast spears at me, +whilst I stuck fast on his back and he fended me with hoofs and +forehand,[FN#91] till at last he bolted out with me from amongst them +like unerring shaft or shooting star. But in the stress and stowre I +got sundry grievous wounds and sore; and, since that time, I have +passed on his back three days without tasting food or sleeping aught, +so that my strength is down brought and the world is become to me as +naught. But thou hast dealt kindly with me and hast shown ruth on me; +and I see thee naked stark and sorrow hath set on thee its mark, yet +are signs of wealth and gentle breeding manifest on thee. So tell me, +what and whence art thou and whither art thou bound?" Answered the +Prince, "My name is Kanmakan, son of Zau al-Makan, son of King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman. When my father died and an orphan lot was my fate, a base +man seized the throne and became King over small and great." Then he +told him all his past from first to last; and the horse thief said to +him for he pitied him, "By Allah, thou art one of high degree and +exceeding nobility, and thou shalt surely attain estate sublime and +become the first cavalier of thy time. If thou can lift me on horseback +and mount thee behind me and bring me to my own land, thou shalt have +honour in this world and a reward on the day of band calling to +band,[FN#92] for I have no strength left to steady myself; and if this +be my last day, the steed is thine alway, for thou art worthier of him +than any other." Quoth Kanmakan, By Allah, if I could carry thee on my +shoulders or share my days with thee, I would do this deed without the +steed! For I am of a breed that loveth to do good and to succour those +in need; and one kindly action in Almighty Allah's honour averteth +seventy calamities from its doer. So make ready to set out and put thy +trust in the Subtle, the All- Wise." And he would have lifted him on to +the horse and fared forward trusting in Allah Aider of those who seek +aid, but the horse thief said, "Wait for me awhile. Then he closed his +eyes and opening his hands, said I testify that there is no god but the +God, and I testify that Mohammed is the Apostle of God!" And he added, +"O glorious One, pardon me my mortal sin, for none can pardon mortal +sins save the Immortal!" And he made ready for death and recited these +couplets, + +"I have wronged mankind, and have ranged like wind * + O'er the world, and in wine-cups my life has past: +I've swum torrent course to bear off the horse; * + And my guiles high places on plain have cast. +Much I've tried to win and o'er much my sin, * + And Katul of my winnings is most and last: +I had hoped of this steed to gain wish and need, * + But vain was the end of this journey vast. +I have stolen through life, and my death in strife * + Was doomed by the Lord who doth all forecast +And I've toiled these toils to their fatal end * + For an orphan, a pauper sans kith or friend!" + +And when he had finished his verses he closed his eyes and opened his +mouth; then with a single death-rattling he left this world. Thereupon +Kanmakan rose and dug a grave and laid him in the dust; after which he +went up to the steed and kissed him and wiped his face and joyed with +exceeding joy, saying, "None hath the fellow of this stallion; no, not +even King Sasan." Such was the case with Kanmakan; but as regards King +Sasan, presently news came to him that the Wazir Dandan had thrown off +his allegiance, and with him half the army who swore that they would +have no King but Kanmakan: and the Minister had bound the troops by a +solemn covenant and had gone with them to the Islands of India and to +Berber-land and to Black-land;[FN#93] where he had levied armies from +far and near, like unto the swollen sea for fear and none could tell +the host's van from its rear. And the Minister was resolved to make +for Baghdad and take the kingdom in ward and slay every soul who dare +retard, having sworn not to return the sword of war to its sheath, till +he had made Kanmakan King. When this news came to Sasan, he was +drowned in the sea of appal, knowing that the whole state had turned +against him, great and small; and his trouble redoubled and his care +became despair. So he opened his treasuries and distributed his monies +among his officers; and he prayed for Kanmakan's return, that he might +draw his heart to him with fair usage and bounty; and make him +commander of those troops which ceased not being faithful to him, so +might he quench the sparks ere they became a flame. Now when the news +of this reached Kanmakan by the merchants, he returned in haste to +Baghdad on the back of the aforesaid stallion, and as King Sasan sat +perplexed upon his throne he heard of the coming of Kanmakan; whereupon +he despatched all the troops and head-men of the city to meet him. So +all who were in Baghdad fared forth and met the Prince and escorted him +to the palace and kissed the thresholds, whilst the damsels and the +eunuchs went in to his mother and gave her the fair tidings of his +return. She came to him and kissed him between the eyes, but he said +to her, "O mother mine, let me go to my uncle King Sasan who hath +overwhelmed me with weal and boon." And while he so did, all the +palace-people and head-men marvelled at the beauty of the stallion and +said, "No King is like unto this man." So Kanmakan went in to King +Sasan and saluted him as he rose to receive him; and, kissing his hands +and feet, offered him the horse as a present. The King greeted him, +saying, "Well come and welcome to my son Kanmakan! By Allah, the world +hath been straitened on me by reason of thine absence, but praised be +Allah for thy safety!" And Kanmakan called down blessings on him. Then +the King looked at the stallion, Al-Katul highs, and knew him for the +very horse he had seen in such and such a year whilst beleaguering the +Cross-worshippers of Constantinople with Kanmakan's sire, Zau al- +Makan, that time they slew his uncle Sharrkan. So he said to the +Prince, "If thy father could have come by this courser, he would have +bought it with a thousand blood horses: but now let the honour return +to the honourable. We accept the steed and we give him back to thee as +a gift, for to him thou hast more right than any wight, being +knightliest of knights." Then King Sasan bade bring forth for him +dresses of honour and led horses and appointed to him the chief lodging +in the palace, and showed him the utmost affection and honour, because +he feared the issue of the Wazir Dandan's doings. At this Kanmakan +rejoiced and shame and humiliation ceased from him. Then he went to +his house and, going to his mother, asked, "O my mother, how is it with +the daughter of my uncle?" Answered she, "By Allah, O my son, my +concern for thine absence hath distracted me from any other, even from +thy beloved; especially as she was the cause of thy strangerhood and +thy separation from me." Then he complained to her of his case, saying, +"O my mother, go to her and speak with her; haply she will vouchsafe me +her sight to see and dispel from me this despondency." Replied his +mother, "Idle desires abase men's necks; so put away from thee this +thought that can only vex; for I will not wend to her nor go in to her +with such message.' Now when he heard his mother's words he told her +what said the horse-thief concerning Zat al-Dawahi, how the old woman +was then in their land purposing to make Baghdad, and added, "It was +she who slew my uncle and my grandfather, and needs must I avenge them +with man-bote, that our reproach be wiped out." Then he left her and +repaired to an old woman, a wicked, whorish, pernicious beldam by name +Sa'adánah and complained to her of his case and of what he suffered for +love of his cousin Kuzia Fakan and begged her to go to her and win her +favour for him. "I hear and I obey," answered the old hag and leaving +him betook herself to Kuzia Fakan's palace, that she might intercede +with her in his behalf. Then she returned to him and said, "Of a truth +Kuzia Fakan saluteth thee and promiseth to visit thee this night about +midnight."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Forty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old +woman came to Kanmakan and said, "Of a truth the daughter of thine +uncle saluteth thee and she will visit thee this night about midnight;" +he rejoiced and sat down to await the fulfilment of his cousin's +promise. But before the hour of night she came to him, wrapped in a +veil of black silk, and she went in to him and aroused him from sleep, +saying, "How canst thou pretend to love me, when thou art sleeping +heart-free and in complete content?" So he awoke and said, "By Allah, O +desire of my heart, I slept not but in the hope that thine image might +visit my dreams!" Then she chid him with soft words and began +versifying in these couplets, + +"Hadst thou been leaf in love's loyalty, * + Ne'er haddest suffered sleep to seal those eyne: +O thou who claimest lover-loyalty, * + Treading the lover's path of pain and pine! +By Allah, O my cousin, never yet * + Did eyes of lover sleep such sleep indign." + +Now when he heard his cousin's words, he was abashed before her and +rose and excused himself. Then they embraced and complained to each +other of the anguish of separation; and they ceased not thus till dawn +broke and day dispersed itself over the horizon; when she rose +preparing to depart. Upon this Kanmakan wept and sighed and began +improvising these couplets, + +"O thou who deignest come at sorest sync, * + Whose lips those teeth like necklaced pearls enshrine' +I kissed him[FN#94] thousand times and clips his waist, * + And spent the night with cheek to cheek close li'en +Till to depart us twain came dawning day, * + Like sword edge drawn from sheath in radiant line." + +And when he ended his poetry, Kuzia Fakan took leave of him and +returned to her palace. Now certain of her damsels became aware of her +secret, and one of these slave girls disclosed it to King Sasan, who +went into Kuzia Fakan and, drawing his sabre upon her, would have slain +her: but her mother Nuzhat al-Zaman entered and said to him, "By Allah, +do her no harm, for if thou hurt her, the report will be noised among +the folk and thou shalt become a reproach amongst the Kings of the age! + Know thou that Kanmakan is no son of adultery, but a man of honour and +nobility, who would not do aught that could shame him, and she was +reared with him. So be not hasty; for verily the report is spread +abroad, among all the palace-people and all the folk of Baghdad, how +the Wazir Dandan hath levied armies from all countries and is on his +way hither to make Kanmakan King." Quoth Sasan, "By Allah, needs must I +cast him into such calamity that neither earth shall support him nor +sky shall shadow him! I did but speak him fair and show him favour +because of my lieges and my lords, lest they incline to him; but right +soon shalt thou see what shall betide." Then he left her and went out +to order the affairs of the realm. Such, then, was the case with King +Sasan; but as regards Kanmakan, on the next day he came in to his +mother and said, "O my mother! I am resolved to ride forth a raiding +and a looting: and I will cut the road of caravans and lift horses and +flocks, negroes and white slaves and, as soon as I have collected great +store and my case is bettered galore, I will demand my cousin Kuzia +Fakan in marriage of my uncle Sasan." Replied she, "O my son, of a +truth the goods of men are not ready to hand like a scape-camel;[FN#95] +for on this side of them are sword-strokes and lance-lungings and men +that eat the wild beast and lay countries waste and chase lynxes and +hunt lions." Quoth he, Heaven forefend that I turn back from my +resolve, till I have won to my will! Then he despatched the old woman +to Kuzia Fakan, to tell her that he was about to set out in quest of a +marriage settle ment befitting her, saying to the beldam, "Thou needs +must pray her to send me an answer." "I hear and I obey," replied the +old woman and going forth, presently returned with Kuzia Fakan's reply, +which was, "She will come to thee at midnight." So he abode awake till +one half of the night was passed, when restlessness get hold on him, +and before he was aware she came in to him, saying, "My life be thy +ransom from wakefulness!" and he sprang up to receive her, exclaiming, +"O desire of my heart, my life be thy redemption from all ills and +evils!" Then he acquainted her, with his intent, and she wept: but he +said, "Weep not, O daughter of my uncle; for I beseech Him who decreed +our separation to vouchsafe us reunion and fair understanding." Then +Kanmakan, having fixed a day for departure, went in to his mother and +took leave of her, after which came he down from his palace and threw +the baldrick of his sword over his shoulder and donned turband and +face-veil; and mounting his horse, Al-Katul, and looking like the moon +at its full, he threaded the streets of Baghdad, till he reached the +city gate. And behold, here he found Sabbah bin Rammah coming out of +town; and his comrade seeing him, ran to his stirrup and saluted him. +He returned his salutation, and Sabbah asked him, "O my brother, how +camest thou by this good steed and this sword and clothes, whilst I up +to present time have gotten nothing but my sword and target?" Answered +Kanmakan, "The hunter returneth not but with quarry after the measure +of his intention. A little after thy departure, fortune came to me: so +now say, wilt thou go with me and work thine intent in my company and +journey with me in this desert?" Replied Sabbah, "By the Lord of the +Ka'abah, from this time forth I will call thee naught but 'my lord'!" +Then he ran on before the horse, with his sword hanging from his neck +and his budget between his shoulder blades, and Kanmakan rode a little +behind him; and they plunged into the desert, for a space of four days, +eating of the gazelles and drinking water of the springs. On the fifth +day they drew near a high hill, at whose foot was a +spring-encampment[FN#96] and a deep running stream; and the knolls and +hollows were filled with camels and cattle and sheep and horses, and +little children played about the pens and folds. When Kanmakan saw +this, he rejoiced at the sight and his breast was filled with delight; +so he addressed himself to fight, that he might take the camels and the +cattle, and said to Sabbah, "Come, fall with us upon this loot, whose +owners have left it unguarded here, and do we battle for it with near +and far, so haply may fall to our lot of goods some share." Replied +Sabbah, "O my lord, verily they to whom these herds belong be many in +number; and among them are doughty horsemen and fighting footmen; and +if we venture lives in this derring do we shall fall into danger great +and neither of us will return safe from this bate; but we shall both be +cut off by fate and leave our cousins desolate." Then Kanmakan laughed +and knew that he was a coward; so he left him and rode down the rise, +intent on rapine, with loud cries and chanting these couplets, + +"Oh a valiant race are the sons of Nu'umán, * + Braves whose blades shred heads of the foeman-clan![FN#97] +A tribe who, when tried in the tussle of war, * + Taketh prowess stand in the battle-van: +In their tents safe close gaberlunzie's eyne, * + Nor his poverty's ugly features scan: +And I for their aidance sue of Him * + Who is King of Kings and made soul of man." + +Then he rushed upon the she-camels like a he-camel in rut and drove all +before him, sheep and cattle, horses and dromedaries. Therewith the +slaves ran at him with their blades so bright and their lances so long; +and at their head rode a Turkish horseman who was indeed a stout +champion, doughty in fray and in battle chance and skilled to wield the +nut-brown lance and the blade with bright glance. He drove at +Kanmakan, saying, "Woe to thee! Knewest thou to whom these herds belong +thou hadst not done this deed. Know that they are the goods of the +band Grecian, the champions of the ocean and the troop Circassian; and +this troop containeth none but valiant wights numbering an hundred +knights, who have cast off the allegiance of every Sultan. But there +hath been stolen from them a noble stallion, and they have vowed not to +return hence without him." Now when Kanmakan heard these words, he +cried out, saying, "O villain, this I bestride is the steed whereof ye +speak and after which ye seek, and ye would do battle with me for his +sake' So come out against me, all of you at once, and do you dourest +for the nonce!" Then he shouted between the ears of Al-Katul who ran at +them like a Ghul; whereupon Kanmakan let drive at the Turk[FN#98] and +ran him through the body and threw him from his horse and let out his +life; after which he turned upon a second and a third and a fourth, and +also of life bereft them. When the slaves saw this, they were afraid +of him, and he cried out and said to them, "Ho, sons of whores, drive +out the cattle and the stud or I will dye my spear in your blood." So +they untethered the beasts and began to drive them out; and Sabbah came +down to Kanmakan with loud voicing and hugely rejoicing; when lo! there +arose a cloud of dust and grew till it walled the view, and there +appeared under of it riders an hundred, like lions an-hungered. Upon +this Sabbah took flight, and fled to the hill's topmost height, leaving +the assailable site, and enjoyed sight of the fight, saying, "I am no +warrior; but in sport and jest I delight."[FN#99] Then the hundred +cavaliers made towards Kanmakan and surrounded him on all sides, and +one of them accosted him, saying, "Whither goest thou with this loot?" +Quoth he, "I have made it my prize and am carrying it away; and I +forbid you from it, or come on to the combat, for know ye that he who +is before you is a terrible lion and an honourable champion, and a +sword that cutteth wherever it turneth!" When the horseman heard these +words, he looked at Kanmakan and saw that he was a knight like a +mane-clad lion in might, whilst his face was as the full moon rising on +its fourteenth night, and velour shone from between his eyes. Now that +horseman was the captain of the hundred horse, and his name was +Kahrdash; and when he saw in Kanmakan the perfection of cavalarice with +surpassing gifts of comeliness, his beauty reminded him of a beautiful +mistress of his whose name was Fátin.[FN#100] Now she was one of the +fairest of women in face, for Allah had given her charms and grace and +noble qualities of all kinds, such as tongue faileth to explain and +which ravish the hearts of men. Moreover, the cavaliers of the tribe +feared her prowess and all the champions of that land stood in awe of +her high spirit; and she had sworn that she would not marry nor let any +possess her, except he should conquer her in combat (Kahrdash being one +of her suitors); and she said to her father, "None shall approach me, +save he be able to deal me over throw in the field and stead of war +thrust and blow. Now when this news reached Kahrdash, he scorned to +fight with a girl, fearing reproach; and one of his intimates said to +him, "Thou art complete in all conditions of beauty and goodliness; so +if thou contend with her, even though she be stronger than thou, thou +must needs overcome her; for when she seeth thy beauty and grace, she +will be discomfited before thee and yield thee the victory; for verily +women have a need of men e'en as thou heedest full plain." Nevertheless +Kahrdash refused and would not contend with her, and he ceased not to +abstain from her thus, till he met from Kanmakan that which hath been +set down. Now he took the Prince for his beloved Fatin and was afraid; +albeit indeed she loved him for what she had heard of his beauty and +velour; so he went up to him and said, "Woe to thee,[FN#101] O Fatin! +Thou comest here to show me thy prowess; but now alight from thy steed, +that I may talk with thee, for I have lifted these cattle and have +foiled my friends and waylaid many a brave and man of knightly race, +all for the sake of thy beauty of form and face, which are without +peer. So marry me now, that Kings' daughters may serve thee and thou +shalt become Queen of these countries." When Kanmakan heard these +words, the fires of wrath flamed up in him and he cried out, "Woe to +thee, O Persian dog! Leave Fatin and thy trust and mistrust, and come +to cut and thrust, for eftsoon thou shalt lie in the dust;" and so +saying, he began to wheel about him and assail him and feel the way to +prevail. But when Kahrdash observed him closely he knew him for a +doughty knight and a stalwart in fight; and the error of his thought +became manifest to him, whenas he saw the green down on his cheeks +dispread like myrtles springing from the heart of a rose bright-red. +And he feared his onslaught and quoth he to those with him, "Woe to +you! Let one of you charge down upon him and show him the keen sword +and the quivering spear; for know that when many do battle with one man +it is foul shame, even though he be a kemperly wight and an invincible +knight." Upon this, there ran at Kanmakan a horseman like a lion in +fight, mounted on a black horse with hoofs snow-white and a star on his +forehead, the bigness of a dirham, astounding wit and sight, as he were +Abjar, which was Antar's destrier, even as saith of him the poet, + +"The courser chargeth on battling foe, * + Mixing heaven on high with the earth down low:[FN#102] +As though the Morning had blazed his brow, * + And he rends her vitals as quid pro quo." + +He rushed upon Kanmakan, and they wheeled about awhile, giving blows +and taking blows such as confound the sprite and dim the sight; but +Kanmakan was the first to smite the foe a swashing blow, that rove +through turband and iron skull cap and reached his head, and he fell +from his steed with the fall of a camel when he rolleth over. Then a +second came out to him and offered battle, and in like guise a third, a +fourth and a fifth, and he did with them all as he had done with the +first. Thereupon the rest at once rushed upon him, for indeed they +were roused by rage and wild with wrath; but it was not long before he +had pierced them all with the point of his spear. When Kahrdash saw +these feats of arms, he feared death; for he knew that the youth was +stoutest of heart and concluded that he was unique among knights and +braves; and he said to Kanmakan, "I waive my claim to thy blood and I +pardon thee the blood of my comrades: so take what thou wilt of the +cattle and wend thy ways, for thy firmness in fight moveth my ruth and +life is better for thee than death." Replied Kanmakan, "Thou lackest +not of the generosity of the noble! but leave this talk and run for +thy life and reck not of blame nor think to get back the booty; but +take the straight path for thine own safety." Thereupon Kahrdash waxed +exceeding wroth, and rage moved him to the cause of his death; so he +said to Kanmakan, "Woe to thee, an thou knew who I be, thou wouldst not +wield these words in the open field. I am the lion to bash known as +Kahrdash, he who spoileth great Kings and waylayeth all travellings and +seizeth the merchants' preciousest things. And the steed under thee is +that I am seeking; and I call upon thee to tell me how thou camest by +him and hast him in thy keeping." Replied Kan makan, "Know thou that +this steed was being carried to my uncle King Sasan, under the escort +of an ancient dame high in rank attended by ten slaves, when thou +fellest upon her and tookest the horse from her; and I have a debt of +blood against this old woman for the sake of my grandfather King Omar +bin al Nu'uman and my uncle King Sharrkan.' "Woe to thee!" quoth +Kahrdash, "who is thy father, O thou that hast no lawful mother?" Quoth +he, "Know that I am Kanmakan, bin Zau al-Makan, son of Omar bin +al-Nu'uman." But when Kahrdash heard this address he said, "Thy +perfection cannot be denied, nor yet the union in thee of knightly +virtue and seemlihead," and he added, "Fare in peace, for thy father +showed us favour." Rejoined Kanmakan, "By Allah, I will not deign to +honour thee, O wretch I disdain, so far as to overcome thee in battle +plain!" Upon this the Badawi waxed wroth and they drove at each other, +shouting aloud, whilst their horses pricked their ears and raised their +tails.[FN#103] And they ceased not clashing together with such a crash +that it seemed to each as if the firmament were split in sunder, and +they continued to strive like two rams which butt, smiting and +exchanging with their spears thrust and cut. Presently Kahrdash foined +at Kanmakan; but he evaded it and rejoined upon him and so pierced him +through the breast that the spearhead issued from his back. Then he +collected the horses and the plunder, and he cried out to the slaves, +saying, "Up and be driving as hard as ye may!" Hearing this, down came +Sabbah and, accosting Kanmakan, said to him, "Right well hast thou +dight, O Knight of the age! Verily I prayed Allah for thee and the Lord +heard my prayer." Then he cut off Kahrdash's head and Kanmakan laughed +and said, "Woe to thee, O Sabbah! I thought thee a rider fain of +fight." Quoth the Badawi, "Forget not thy slave in the division of the +spoil, so haply therewith I may marry my cousin Najmah." Answered +Kanmakan, "Thou shalt assuredly share in it, but now keep watch over +the booty and the slaves." Then he set out for his home and he ceased +not journeying night and day till he drew near Baghdad city, and all +the troops heard of Kanmakan, and saw what was his of loot and cattle +and the horse-thief's head on the point of Sabbah's spear. Also (for +he was a noted highwayman) the merchants knew Kahrdash's head and +rejoiced, saying, "Allah hath rid mankind of him!"; and they marvelled +at his being slain and blessed his slayer. Thereupon all the people of +Baghdad came to Kanmakan, seeking to know what adventures had befallen +him, and he told them what had passed, whereupon all men were taken +with awe of him and the Knights and champions feared him. Then he +drove his spoil under the palace walls; and, planting the spear heel, +on whose point was Kahrdash's head, over against the royal gate, gave +largesse to the people of Baghdad, distributing horses and camels, so +that all loved him and their hearts inclined to him. Presently he took +Sabbah and lodged him in a spacious dwelling and gave him a share of +the loot; after which he went in to his mother and told her all that +had befallen him in his last journey. Meanwhile the news of him +reached the King, who rose from his levee and, shutting himself up with +his chief officers, said to them, "Know ye that I desire to reveal to +you my secret and acquaint you with the hidden facts of my case. And +further know that Kanmakan will be the cause of our being uprooted from +this kingdom, our birth place; for he hath slain Kahrdash, albeit he +had with him the tribes of the Kurds and the Turks, and our affair with +him will end in our destruction, seeing that the most part of our +troops are his kinsmen and ye weet what the Wazir Dandan hath done; how +he disowneth me, after all I have shown him of favours; and after being +faithful he hath turned traitor. Indeed it hath reached me that he hath +levied an army in the provinces and hath planned to make Kanmakan +Sultan, for that the Sultanate was his father's and his grandfather's; +and assuredly he will slay me without mercy." Now when the Lords of the +Realm heard from him these words, they replied, "O King, verily this +man.[FN#104] is unequal to this, and did we not know him to have been +reared by thee, not one of us would approve of him. And know thou that +we are at thy commandment; if thou desire his death, we will do him +die; and if thou wilt remove him, we will remove him." Now when King +Sasan heard this, he said, "Verily, to slay him were wise; but needs +must ye swear an oath to it." So all sware to slay Kanmakan without +giving him a chance; to the end that, when the Wazir Dandan should come +and hear of his death, his force might be weakened and he fail of his +design. When they had made this compact and covenant with trim, the +king honoured them with the highest honours and presently retired to +his own apartments. But the officers deserted him and the troops +refused their service and would neither mount nor dismount until they +should espy what might befal, for they saw that most of the army was +with the Wazir Dandan. Presently, the news of these things came to +Kuzia Fakan and caused her much concern; so that she sent for the old +woman who was wont to carry messages between her and her cousin, and +when she came, bade her go to him and warn him of the plot. Whereto he +replied, "Bear my salutation to the daughter of my uncle and say to +her, 'Verily the earth is of Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!), +and He giveth it as heritage to whomsoever of His servants He willeth.' +How excellent is the saying of the sayer, + +'Allah holds Kingship! Whoso seeks without Him victory * + Shall be cast out, with soul condemned to Hell of low + degree: +Had I or any other man a finger breadth of land, * + The rule were changed and men a twain of partner gods would + see.' " + +Then the old woman returned to Kuzia Fakan and told her his reply and +acquainted her that he abode in the city. Meanwhile, King Sasan +awaited his faring forth from Baghdad, that he might send after him +some who would slay him; till it befel one morning that Kanmakan went +out to course and chase, accompanied by Sabbah, who would not leave him +night or day. He caught ten gazelles and among them one that had +tender black eyes and turned right and left: so he let her go and +Sabbah said to him, "Why didst thou free this gazelle?" Kanmakan +laughed and set the others free also, saying, "It is only humane to +release gazelles that have young, and this one turned not from side to +side, save to look for her fawns: so I let her go and released the +others in her honour." Quoth Sabbah, "Do thou release me, that I may go +to my people." At this Kanmakan laughed and smote him with the spear +butt on the breast, and he fell to the ground squirming like a snake. +Whilst they were thus doing, behold, they saw a dust cloud spireing +high and heard the tramp of horses; and presently there appeared under +it a plump of knights and braves. Now the cause of their coming was +this. Some of his followers had acquainted King Sasan with Kanmakan's +going out to the chase; so he sent for an Emir of the Daylamites, +called Jámi' and twenty of his horsemen; and gave them money and bade +them slay Kanmaken. So when they drew near the Prince, they charged +down upon him and he met them in mid-charge and killed them all, to the +last man. And behold, King Sasan took horse and riding out to meet his +people, found them all slain, whereat he wondered and turned back; when +lo! the people of the city laid hands on him and bound him straitly. +As for Kanmakan after that adventure, he left the place behind him and +rode onward with Sabbah the Badawi. And the while he went, lo! he saw +a youth sitting at the door of a house on his road and saluted him. +The youth returned his greeting and, going into the house, brought out +two platters, one full of soured milk and the other of brewis swimming +in clarified butter; and he set the platter before Kanmakan, saying +"Favour us by eating of our victual." But he refused and quoth the +young man to him, "What aileth thee, O man, that thou wilt not eat?" +Quoth Kanmakan, "I have a vow upon me." The youth asked, "What is the +cause of thy vow?", and Kanmakan answered, "Know that King Sasan seized +upon my kingdom like a tyrant and an enemy, although it was my father's +and my grand father's before me; yet he became master of it by force +after my father's death and took no count of me, by reason of my tender +years. So I have bound myself by a vow to eat no man's victual till I +have eased my heart of my foe." Rejoined the youth, "Rejoice, for Allah +hath fulfilled thy vow. Know that he hath been prisoned in a certain +place and methinks he will soon die." Asked Kanmakan, "In what house is +he confined?" "Under yon high dome," answered the other. The Prince +looked and saw the folk entering and buffeting Sasan, who was suffering +the agonies of the dying. So he arose and went up to the pavilion and +noted what was therein; after which he returned to his place and, +sitting down to the proferred victual, ate what sufficed him and put +the rest in his wallet. Then he took seat in his own place and ceased +not sitting till it was dark night and the youth, whose guest he was +slept; when he rose and repaired to the pavilion wherein Sasan was +confined. Now about it were dogs guarding it, and one of them sprang +at him; so he took out of his budget a bit of meat and threw it to him. + He ceased not casting flesh to the dogs till he came to the pavilion +and, making his way to where King Sasan was, laid his hand upon his +head; whereupon he said in a loud voice, "Who art thou?" He replied, "I +am Kanmakan whom thou stravest to kill; but Allah made thee fall into +thine evil device. Did it not suffice thee to take my kingdom and the +kingdom of my father, but thou must purpose to slay me?"[FN#105] And +Sasan swore a false oath that he had not plotted his death and that the +bruit was untrue. So Kanmakan forgave him and said to him, "Follow +me." Quoth he, "I cannot walk a single step for weakness." Quoth +Kanmakan, "If the case be thus we will get us two horses and ride +forth, I and thou, and seek the open." So he did as he said, and he +took horse with Sasan and rode till day break, when they prayed the +dawn prayer and fared on, and ceased not faring till they came to a +garden, where they sat down and talked. Then Kanmakan rose to Sasan +and said, "Is aught left to set thy heart against me?" "No, by Allah!" +replied Sasan. So they agreed to return to Baghdad and Sabbah the +Badawi said, "I will go before you, to give folk the fair tidings of +your coming." Then he rode on in advance, acquainting women and men +with the good news; so all the people came out to meet Kanmakan with +tabrets and pipes; and Kuzia Fakan also came out, like the full moon +shining in all her splendour of light through the thick darkness of the +night. So Kanmakan met her, and soul yearned to soul and body longed +for body. There was no talk among the people of the time but of +Kanmakan; for the Knights bore witness of him that he was the most +valiant of the folk of the age and said, "It is not right that other +than Kanmakan should be our Sultan, but the throne of his grandfather +shall revert to him as it began." Meanwhile Sasan went in to his wife, +Nuzhat al-Zaman, who said to him, "I hear that the folk talk of nothing +but Kanmakan and attribute to him such qualities as tongue never can." +He replied, "Hearing of a man is not like seeing a man. I have seen +him, but have noted in him none of the attributes of perfection. Not +all that is heard is said; but folk ape one another in extolling and +cherishing him, and Allah maketh his praises to run on the lips of men, +so that there incline to him the hearts of the people of Baghdad and of +the Wazir Dandan, that perfidious and treacherous man; who hath levied +troops from all lands and taketh to himself the right of naming a King +of the country; and who chooseth that it shall be under the hand of an +orphan ruler whose worth is naught." Asked Nuzhat al-Zaman, "What then +is it that thou purposest to do?"; and the King answered, "I mean to +kill him, that the Wazir may be baulked of his intent and return to his +allegiance, seeing nothing for it but my service." Quoth she, "In good +sooth perfidy with strangers is a foul thing and how much more with +kith and kin! The righteous deed to do would be to marry him to thy +daughter Kuzia Fakan and give heed to what was said of old time, + +'An Fate some person 'stablish o'er thy head, * + And thou being worthier her choice upbraid, +Yet do him honour due to his estate; * + He'll bring thee weal though far or near thou vade: +Nor speak thy thought of him, else shalt thou be * + Of those who self degrade from honour's grade: +Many Haríms are lovelier than the Bride, * + But Time and Fortune lent the Bride their aid.'" + +When Sasan heard these her words and comprehended what her verse +intended, he rose from her in anger and said, "Were it not that thy +death would bring on me dishonour and disgrace, I would take off thy +head with my blade and make an end of thy breath." Quoth she, "Why art +thou wroth with me? I did but jest with thee." Then she rose to him +and bussed his head and hands, saying, "Right is thy foresight, and I +and thou will cast about for some means to kill him forthright." When +he heard this, he was glad and said, "Make haste and contrive some +deceit to relieve me of my grieving: for in my sooth the door of device +is straitened upon me!" Replied she, "At once I will devise for thee to +do away his life." "How so?" asked he; and she answered, "By means of +our female slave the so-called Bákún." Now this Bakun was past mistress +in all kinds of knavery and was one of the most pestilent of old women, +in whose religion to abstain from wickedness was not lawful; she had +brought up Kuzia Fakan and Kanmakan who had her in so great affection +that he used to sleep at her feet. So when King Sasan heard his wife +name her, he said, "Right is this recking"; and, sending for the old +woman, told her what had passed and bade her cast about to kill +Kanmaken, promising her all good. Replied she, "Thy bidding shall be +obeyed; but I would have thee, O my lord, give me a dagger[FN#106] +which hath been tempered in water of death, that I may despatch him the +speedilier for thee." Quoth Sasan, "And welcome to thee!"; and gave her +a hanger that would devance man's destiny. Now this slave women had +heard stories and verses and had learned by rote great store of strange +sayings and anecdotes: so she took the dagger and went out of the room, +considering how she could compass his doom. Then she repaired to +Kanmakan, who was sitting and awaiting news of tryst with the daughter +of his uncle, Kuzia Fakan; so that night his thought was taken up with +her and the fires of love for her raged in his heart. And while he was +thus, behold, the slave woman, Bakun, went in to him and said, "Union +time is at hand and the days of disunion are over and gone." Now when +he heard this he asked, "How is it with Kuzia Fakan?"; and Bakun +answered, "Know that her time is wholly taken up with love of thee." At +this he rose and doffing his outer clothes put them on her and promised +her all good. Then said she, "Know that I mean to pass this night with +thee, that I may tell thee what talk I have heard and console thee with +stories of many passion distraughts whom love hath made sick." "Nay," +quoth he, "rather tell me a tale that will gladden my heart and gar my +cares depart." "With joy and good will," answered she; then she took +seat by his side (and that poniard under her dress) and began to say: +"Know thou that the pleasantest thing my ears ever heard was + + +The Tale of the Hashish Eater. + +A certain man loved fair women, and spent his substance on them, till +he became so poor that nothing remained to him; the world was +straitened upon him and he used to go about the market- streets begging +his daily bread. Once upon a time as he went along, behold, a bit of +iron nail pierced his finger and drew blood; so he sat down and wiping +away the blood, bound up his finger. Then he arose crying out, and +fared forwards till he came to a Hammam and entering took off his +clothes, and when he looked about him he found it clean and empty. So +he sat him down by the fountain-basin, and ceased not pouring water on +his head, till he was tired.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Forty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the man sat down +by the fountain basin and ceased not pouring water on his head till he +was tired. Then he went out to the room in which was the cistern of +cold water; and seeing no one there, he found a quiet corner and taking +out a piece of Hashísh,[FN#107] swallowed it. Presently the fumes +mounted to his brain and he rolled over on to the marble floor. Then +the Hashish made him fancy that a great lord was shampooing him and +that two slaves stood at his head, one bearing a bowl and the other +washing gear and all the requisites of the Hammam. When he saw this, he +said in himself, "Meseemeth these here be mistaken in me; or else they +are of the company of us Hashish-eaters."[FN#108] Then he stretched +out his legs and he imagined that the bathman said to him, "O my +master, the time of thy going up to the Palace draweth near and it is +to-day thy turn of service." At this he laughed and said to himself, +"As Allah willeth,[FN#109] O Hashish!" Then he sat and said nothing, +whilst the bathman arose and took him by the hand and girt his middle +with a waist-cloth of black silk, after which the two slaves followed +him with the bowls and gear, and they ceased not escorting him till +they brought him into a cabinet, wherein they set incense and perfumes +a-burning. He found the place full of various kinds of fruits and +sweet-scented flowers, and they sliced him a watermelon and seated him +on a stool of ebony, whilst the bathman stood to wash him and the +slaves poured water on him; after which they rubbed him down well and +said, "O our lord, Sir Wazir, health to thee forever!" Then they went +out and shut the door on him; and in the vanity of phantasy he arose +and removed the waist-cloth from his middle, and laughed till he well +nigh fainted. He gave not over laughing for some time and at last +quoth he to himself, "What aileth them to address me as if I were a +Minister and style me Master, and Sir? Haply they are now blundering; +but after an hour they will know me and say, This fellow is a beggar; +and take their fill of cuffing me on the neck." Presently, feeling hot +he opened the door, whereupon it seemed to him that a little white +slave and an eunuch came in to him carrying a parcel. Then the slave +opened it and brought out three kerchiefs of silk, one of which he +threw over his head, a second over his shoulders and a third he tied +round his waist. Moreover, the eunuch gave him a pair of bath- +clogs,[FN#110] and he put them on; after which in came white slaves and +eunuchs and sup ported him (and he laughing the while) to the outer +hall, which he found hung and spread with magnificent furniture, such +as be seemeth none but kings; and the pages hastened up to him and +seated him on the divan. Then they fell to kneading him till sleep +overcame him; and he dreamt that he had a girl in his arms. So he +kissed her and set her between his thighs; then, sitting to her as a +man sitteth to a woman,[FN#111] he took yard in hand and drew her +towards him and weighed down upon her, when lo! he heard one saying to +him, "Awake, thou ne'er-do-well! The noon hour is come and thou art +still asleep." He opened his eyes and found him self lying on the merge +of the cold-water tank, amongst a crowd of people all laughing at him; +for his prickle was at point and the napkin had slipped from his +middle. So he knew that all this was but a confusion of dreams and an +illusion of Hashish and he was vexed and said to him who had aroused +him, "Would thou hadst waited till I had put it in!" Then said the +folk, "Art thou not ashamed, O Hashish-eater, to be sleeping stark +naked with stiff standing tool?" And they cuffed him till his neck was +red. Now he was starving, yet forsooth had he savoured the flavour of +pleasure in his dream. When Kanmakan heard the bondwoman's tale, he +laughed till he fell backward and said to Bakun, "O my nurse, this is +indeed a rare story and a delectable; I never heard the like of this +anecdote. Say me! hast more?" "Yes," replied she, and she ceased not +to tell him merry adventures and laughable absurdities, till sleep +overcame him. Then she sat by his head till the most part of the night +was past, when she said to herself, "It is time to profit by the +occasion." So she sprang to her feet and unsheathed the hanger and +rushing up to Kanmakan, was about to cut his throat when behold, his +mother came in upon the twain. As soon as Bakun saw her, she rose in +respect and advanced to meet her, and fear get hold of her and she fell +a- trembling, as if he had the ague. When his mother looked at her she +marvelled to see her thus and aroused her son, who awoke and found her +sitting at his head. Now the cause of her coming was that Kuzia Fakan +overheard the conversation and the concert to kill Kanmakan, and she +said to his mother, "O wife of my uncle, go to thy son, ere that wicked +whore Bakun murther him;" and she told her what had passed from first +to last. So she fared forth at once, and she thought of naught and +stayed not for aught till she went in to her son at the very moment +when Bakun was about to slay him in his sleep. When he awoke, he said +to his mother, "O my mother, indeed thou comest at a good time, for +nurse Bakun hath been with me this night." Then he turned to Bakun and +asked her, "By my life! knowest thou any story better than those thou +hast told me?" She answered, "And where is what I have told thee +compared with what I will tell thee?; but however better it be, it must +be told at another time." Then she rose to depart, hardly believing, in +her escape albeit he said, "Go in peace!" for she perceived by her +cunning that his mother knew what had occurred. So she went her way; +whereupon his mother said to him, "O my son, blessed be this night, for +that Almighty Allah hath delivered thee from this accursed woman." "And +how so?" enquired he, and she told him the story from beginning to end. + Quoth he, "O my mother, of a truth the live man findeth no slayer, and +though slain he shall not die; but now it were wiser that we depart +from amongst these enemies and let Allah work what He will." So, when +day dawned he left the city and joined the Wazir Dandan, and after his +departure, certain things befel between King Sasan and Nuzhat al-Zaman, +which compelled her also to quit the city and join herself to them; and +presently they were met by all the high officers of King Sasan who +inclined to their party. Then they sat in counsel together devising +what they should do, and at last all agreed upon a razzia into the land +of Roum there to take their revenge for the death of King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman and his son Sharrkan. So they set out with this in tent +and, after sundry adventures (which it were tedious to tell as will +appear from what follows), they fell into the hands of Rúmzán, King of +the Greeks. Next morning, King Rumzan caused Kanmakan and the Wazir +Dandan and their company to be brought before him and, when they came, +he seated them at his side, and bade spread the tables of food. So +they ate and drank and took heart of grace, after having made sure of +death, when they were summoned to the King's presence; and they had +said to one another, "He hath not sent for us but to slay us." And when +they were comforted the King said, "In truth I have had a dream, which +I related to the monks, and they said, "None can expound it to thee +save the Wazir Dandan." Quoth the Minister, "Weal it was thou didst see +in thy dream, O King of the age!" Quoth the King, "O Wazir, I dreamt +that I was in a pit which seemed a black well where multitudes were +tormenting me; and I would have risen, but when springing up I fell on +my feet and could not get out of that same pit. Then I turned and saw +therein a girdle of gold and I stretched out my hand to take it; but +when I raised it from the ground, I saw it was two girdles. So I girt +my middle with them both and behold, the girdles became one girdle; and +this, O Wazir, is my dream and what I saw when my sleep was deepest." +Said Dandan, "O our Lord the Sultan! know that this thy dream denoteth +thou hast a brother or a brother's son or an uncle's son or other near +kinsman of thy flesh and blood whom thou knowest not; withal he is of +the noblest of you all." Now when the King heard these words he looked +at Kanmakan and Nuzhat al-Zaman and Kuzia Fakan and the Wazir Dandan +and the rest of the captives and said to himself, "If I smite these +people's necks, their troops will lose heart for the destruction of +their chiefs and I shall be able to return speedily to my realm, lest +the Kingship pass out of my hands." So having determined upon this he +called the Sworder and bade him strike off Kanmakan's head upon the +spot and forthright, when lo! up came Rumzan's nurse and said to him, +"O auspicious King, what purposest thou?" Quoth he, "I purpose +slaughtering these prisoners who are in my power; and after that I will +throw their heads among their men: then will I fall upon them, I and +all my army in one body, and kill all we can kill and rout the rest: so +will this be the decisive action of the war and I shall return speedily +to my kingdom ere aught of accident befal among my subjects." When the +nurse heard these words, she came up to him and said in the Frankish +tongue, "How canst thou prevail upon thyself to slay thine own +brother's son, and thy sister, and thy sister's daughter?" When he +heard this language, he was wroth with exceeding wrath and said to her, +"O accursed woman, didst thou not tell me that my mother was murthered +and that my father died by poison? Didst thou not give me a jewel and +say to me, 'Of a truth this jewel was thy father's?' Why didst thou not +tell me the truth?" Replied she, "All that I told thee is true, but my +case and thy case are wonderful and my history and thy his tory are +marvellous. My name is Marjanah and thy mother's name was Abrizah: and +she was gifted with such beauty and loveliness and velour that proverbs +were made of her, and her prowess was renowned among men of war. And +thy father was King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad and Khorasan, +without doubt or double dealing or denial. He sent his son Sharrkan on +a razzia in company with this very Wazir Dandan; and they did all that +men can. But Sharrkan, thy brother, who had preceded the force, +separated himself from the troops and fell in with thy mother Queen +Abrizah in her palace; and we happened to have sought a place apart in +order to wrestle, she and I and her other damsels. He came upon us by +chance while we were in such case, and wrestled with thy mother, who +overcame him by the power of her splendid beauty and by her prowess. +Then she entertained him five days in her palace, till the news of this +came to her father, by the old woman Shawahi, surnamed Zat al-Dawahi, +whereupon she embraced Al-Islam at the hands of Sharrkan, and he took +her and carried her by stealth to Baghdad, and with her myself and +Rayhánab and twenty other damsels, all of us having, like her, followed +the True Faith. When we came into the presence of thy Father, the King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and he saw thy mother, Queen Abrizah, he fell in +love with her and going in unto her one night, had connection with her, +and she conceived by him and became with child of thee. Now thy mother +had three jewels which she presented to thy father; and he gave one of +them to his daughter, Nuzhat al-Zaman, another to thy brother, Zau al- +Makan, and the third to thy brother Sharrkan. This last thy mother +took from Sharrkan and kept it for thee. But as the time of her +delivery drew near she yearned after her own people and disclosed to me +her secret; so I went to a black slave called Al- Ghazban; and, privily +telling him our case, bribed him to go with us. Accordingly the negro +took us and fled the city with us, thy mother being near her time. But +as we approached a desert place on the borders of our own country, the +pangs of labour came upon thy mother. Then the slave proved himself a +lustful villain and approaching her sought of her a shameful thing; +whereupon she cried out at him with a loud cry, and was sore affrighted +at him. In the excess of her fright she gave birth to thee at once, and +at that moment there arose, in the direction of our country, a +dust-cloud which towered and flew till it walled the view. Thereupon +the slave feared for his life; so he smote Queen Abrizah with his sword +and slew her in his fury; then mounting his horse he went his way. +Soon after his going, the dust lifted and discovered thy grandfather, +King Hardub, Lord of Grćcia-land, who, seeing thy mother (and his +daughter) lying slain on the plain, was sorely troubled with a distress +that redoubled, and questioned me of the manner of her death and the +cause of her secretly quitting her father's realm. So I told him all +that had passed, first and last; and this is the cause of the feud +between the people of the land of the Greeks and the people of the city +of Baghdad. Then we bore off thy murthered mother and buried her; and +I took thee and reared thee, and hung about thy neck the jewel which +was with Queen Abrizah. But, when being grown up thou camest to man's +estate, I dared not acquaint thee with the truth of the matter, lest +such information stir up a war of blood revenge between you. More +over, thy grandfather had enjoined me to secrecy, and I could not +gainsay the commandment of thy mother's father, Hardub, King of the +Greeks. This, then, is the cause of my concealment and the reason why +I forbore to inform thee that thy father was King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; +but when thou camest to the throne, I told thee what thou knowest; and +I durst not reveal to thee the rest till this moment, O King of the +Age! So now I have discovered to thee my secret and my proof, and I +have acquainted thee with all I know; and thou reckest best what is in +thy mind." Now all the captives had heard the slave woman Marjanah, +nurse to King Rumzan, speaking as she spake; when Nuzhat al-Zaman, +without stay or delay, cried out, saying, "This King Rumzan is my +brother by my father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and his mother was +Queen Abrizah, daughter of King Hardub, Lord of the Greeks; and I know +this slave-woman Marjanah right well." With this, trouble and +perplexity got hold upon Rumzan and he caused Nuzhat al-Zaman to be +brought up to him forthright. When he looked upon her, blood yearned +to blood and he questioned her of his history. She told him the tale +and her story tallied with that of Marjanah, his nurse; whereupon the +King was assured that he was, indeed and without a doubt, of the people +of Irak; and that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman was his father. So without +losing time he caused his sister to be unpinioned, and Nuzhat al-Zaman +came up to him and kissed his hands, whilst her eves ran over with +tears. The King west also to see her weeping, and brotherly love +possessed him and his heart yearned to his brother's son Sultan +Kanmakan. So he sprang to his feet and, taking the sword from the +Sworder's hands (whereat the captives made sure of death), he caused +them to be set close to him and he cut their bonds with the blade and +said to his nurse Marjanah, "Explain the matter to this company, even +as thou hast explained it to me." Replied she, "O King, know that this +Shayth is the Wazir Dandan and he is the best of witnesses to my story, +seeing that he knoweth the facts of the case." Then she turned to the +captives and repeated the whole story to them on the spot and +forthright, and in presence of the Kings of the Greeks and the Kings of +the Franks; whereupon Queen Nuzhat al-Zaman and the Wazir Dandan and +all who were prisoners with them confirmed her words. When Marjanah, +the bond-woman, had finished, chancing to look at Sultan Kanmakan she +saw on his neck the third jewel, fellow to the two which were with +Queen Abrizah; and, recognising it, she cried so loud a cry, that the +palace re-echoed it and said to the King, "O my son, know that now my +certainty is still more assured, for this jewel that is about the neck +of yonder captive is the fellow to that I hung to thy neck; and, these +being the two, this captive is indeed thy brother's son, Kanmakan." +Then the slave women Marjanah turned to Kanmakan and said to him, "Let +me see that jewel, O King of the Age!"; so he took it from his neck and +handed it to her. Then she asked Nuzhat al-Zaman of the third jewel +and she gave it to her; and when the two were in her hand she delivered +them to King Rumzan, and the truth and proof were made manifest to him; +and he was assured that he was indeed Sultan Kanmakan's uncle and that +his father was King Omar bin al- Nu'uman. So he rose at once and on +the spot and, going up to the Wazir Dandan, threw his arms round his +neck; then he embraced King Kanmakan and the twain cried a loud cry for +excess of joy. The glad news was blazed abroad without delay; and they +beat the tabrets and cymbals, whilst the shawms sounded and the people +held high festival. The armies of Irak and Syria heard the clamour of +rejoicing among the Greeks; so they mounted to the last man, and King +Zibl Khan also took horse saying to himself, "Would I knew what can be +the cause of this clamour and rejoicing in the army of the Franks and +the Greeks!" Then the army of Irak dight itself for fight and advanced +into the plain and place of cut and foin. Presently, King Rumzan +turned him round and saw the army deployed and in preparing for battle +employed, so he asked the cause thereof and was told the state of the +case. Thereupon he bade his niece and brother's daughter, Kuzia Fakan, +return at once and forthright to the troops of Syria and Irak and +acquaint them with the plight that had betided and how it was come to +light that King Rumzan was uncle to Sultan Kanmakan. She set out, +putting away from her sorrows and troubles and, coming to King Zibl +Khan,[FN#112] saluted him and told him all that had passed of the good +accord, and how King Rumzan had proved to be her uncle and uncle of +Kanmakan. And when she went in to him she found him tearful eyed, in +fear for the captive Emirs and Princes; but when he heard what had +passed, from first to last, the Moslem's sadness was abated and they +joyed with the more gladness. Then King Zibl Khan and all his officers +and his retinue took horse and followed Princess Kuzia Fakan till they +reached the pavilion of King Rumzan; and when entering they found him +sitting with his nephew, Sultan Kanmakan. Now he had taken counsel +with the Wazir Dandan concerning King Zibl Khan and had agreed to +commit to his charge the city of Damascus of Sham and leave him King +over it as he before had been while they themselves entered Irak. +Accordingly, they confirmed him in the vice royalty of Damascus of +Syria, and bade him set out at once for his government; so he fared +forth with his troops and they rode with him a part of the way to bid +him farewell. Then they returned to their own places whereupon, the +two armies foregathered and gave orders for the march upon Irak; but +the Kings said one to other, "Our hearts will never be at rest nor our +wrath cease to rage till we have taken our wreak of the old woman +Shawahi, surnamed Zat al-Dawahi, and wiped away our shame and blot upon +our honour." Thereupon King Rumzan and his nephew set out, surrounded +by their Nobles and Grandees; and indeed Kanmakan rejoiced in his +uncle, King Rumzan, and called down blessings on nurse Marjanah who had +made them known to each other. They fared on and ceased not faring +till they drew near their home Baghdad, and when the Chief Chamberlain, +Sasan, heard of their approach, he came out to meet them and kissed the +hand of King Rumzan who bestowed on him a dress of honour. Then the +King of Roum sat down on the throne and seated by his side his nephew +Sultan Kanmakan, who said to him, "O my uncle, this Kingdom befitteth +none but thee." Replied Rumzan, "Allah be my refuge and the Lord forbid +that I should supplant thee in thy Kingdom!" Upon this the Wazir Dandan +counselled them to share the throne between the two, ruling each one +day in turn; and with this they were well satisfied.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the two Kings +agreed each to rule one day in turn: then made they feasts and offered +sacrifices of clean beasts and held high festival; and they abode thus +awhile, whilst Sultan Kanmakan spent his nights with his cousin Kuzia +Fakan. And after that period, as the two Kings sat rejoicing in their +condition and in the happy ending of their troubles, behold, they saw a +cloud of dust arise and tower till it walled the world from their eyes. + And out of it came a merchant shrieking and crying aloud for succour +and saying, "O Kings of the Age! how cometh it that I woned safely in +the land of the Infidels and I am plundered in your realm, though it be +the biding place of justice[FN#113] and peace?" Then King Rumzan went +up to him and questioned him of his case and he replied, "I am a +merchant and, like other merchants, I have been long absent from my +native land, travelling in far countries for some twenty years; and I +have a patent of exemption from the city of Damascus which the Viceroy, +King Sharrkan (who hath found mercy) wrote me, for the cause that I had +made him gift of a slave-girl. Now as I was drawing near my home, +having with me an hundred loads of rarities of Hind, when I brought +them near Baghdad, which be the seat of your sovereignty and the place +of your peace and your justice, out there came upon me wild Arabs and +Kurds[FN#114] in band gathered together from every land; and they slew +my many and they robbed my money and this is what they have done me." +Then the trader wept in presence of King Rumzan, saying that he was an +old man and infirm; and he bemoaned himself till the King felt for him +and had compassion on him; and likewise did King Kanmakan and they +swore that they would sally forth upon the thieves. So they set out +amid an hundred horse, each reckoned worth thou sands of men, and the +merchant went before them to guide them in the right way; and they +ceased not faring on all that day and the livelong night till +dawnbreak, when they came to a valley abounding in rills and shady with +trees. Here they found the foray dispersed about the valley, having +divided that merchant's bales among them; but there was yet some of the +goods left. So the hundred horsemen fell upon them and surrounded them +on all sides, and King Rumzan shouted his war cry, and thus also did +his nephew Kanmakan, and ere long they made prize of them all, to the +number of near three hundred horsemen, banded together of the refuse of +rascality.[FN#115] They took what they could find of the merchant's +goods and, binding them tightly, brought them to Baghdad, where King +Rumzan and his nephew, King Kanmakan, sat down together on one throne +and, passing the prisoners in review before them, questioned them of +their case and their chiefs. They said, "We have no chiefs but these +three men and it was they who gathered us together from all corners and +countries." The Kings said to them, "Point out to us your headmen!"; +and, when this was done, they bade lay hands on the leaders and set +their comrades free, after taking from them all the goods in their +possession and restoring them to the merchant, who examined his stuffs +and monies and found that a fourth of his stock was missing. The Kings +engaged to make good the whole of his loss, where upon the trader +pulled out two letters, one in the handwriting of Sharrkan, and the +other in that of Nuzhat al-Zaman; for this was the very merchant who +had bought Nuzhat al-Zaman of the Badawi, when she was a virgin, and +had forwarded her to her brother Sharrkan; and that happened between +them which happened.[FN#116] Hereupon King Kanmakan examined the +letters and recognised the handwriting of his uncle Sharrkan, and, +having heard the history of his aunt, Nuzhat al- Zaman, he went in to +her with the second letter written by her to the merchant who had lost +through her his monies; Kanmakan also told her what had befallen the +trader from first to last. She knew her own handwriting and, +recognising the merchant, despatched to him guest gifts and commended +him to her brother and nephew, who ordered him largesse of money and +black slaves and pages to wait on him; besides which Nuzhat al-Zaman +sent him an hundred thousand dirhams in cash and fifty loads of +merchandise and presented to him other rich presents. Then she sent +for him and when he came, she went up to him and saluted him and told +him that she was the daughter of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman and that her +brother was King Rumzan and that King Kanmakan was her nephew. +Thereupon the merchant rejoiced with great joy, and congratulated her +on her safety and on her re- union with her brother, and kissed her +hands thanking her for her bounty, and said to her, "By Allah! a good +deed is not lost upon thee!" Then she withdrew to her own apartment and +the trader sojourned with them three days, after which he took leave of +them and set out on his return march to the land of Syria. Thereupon +the two Kings sent for the three robber chiefs who were of the highway +men, and questioned them of their case, when one of them came forward +and said, "Know ye that I am a Badawi who am wont to lie in wait, by +the way, to snatch small children[FN#117] and virgin girls and sell +them to merchants; and this I did for many a year until these latter +days, when Satan incited me to join yon two gallows birds in gathering +together all the riff-raff of the Arabs and other peoples, that we +might plunder merchandise and waylay merchants." Said the Kings, "Tell +us the rarest of the adventures that have befallen thee in kidnapping +children and maidens." Replied he, "O Kings of the Age, the strangest +thing that happened to me was that one day, two-and-twenty years ago, I +snatched a girl who belonged to the Holy City; she was gifted with +beauty and comeliness, despite that she was but a servant and was clad +in threadbare clothes, with a piece of camlet-cloth on her head. So I +entrapped her by guile as she came out of the caravanserai; and at that +very hour mounting her on a camel, made off with her, thinking to carry +her to my own people in the Desert and there set her to pasture the +camels and gather their droppings in the valley. But she wept with so +sore a weeping that after coming down upon her with blows, I took her +and carried her to Damascus city where a merchant saw her with me and, +being astounded at her beauty and marvelling at her accomplishments, +wished to buy her of me and kept on bidding me more and more for her, +till at last I sold her to him for an hundred thousand dirhams. After +selling her I heard her display prodigious eloquence; and it reached me +that the merchant clothed her in handsome gear and presented her to the +Viceroy of Damascus, who gave him three times the price which he had +paid to me, and this price, by my life! was but little for such a +damsel. This, O Kings of the Age, is the strangest thing that ever +befel me." When the two Kings heard her story they wondered thereat, +but when Nuzhat al-Zaman heard what the Badawi related, the light +became darkness before her face and she cried out and said to her +brother Rumzan, "Sure and sans doubt this is the very Badawi who +kidnapped me in the Holy City Jerusalem!" Then she told them all that +she had endured from him in her stranger hood of hardship, blows, +hunger, humiliation, contempt, adding, "And now it is lawful for me to +slay him." So saying she seized a sword and made at him to smite him; +and behold, he cried out and said, "O Kings of the Age, suffer her not +to slay me, till I shall have told you the rare adventures that have +betided me." And her nephew Kanmakan said to her, "O my aunt, let him +tell us his tale, and after that do with him as thou wilt." So she held +her hand and the Kings said to him, "Now let us hear thy history." +Quoth he, "O Kings of the Age, if I tell you a rare tale will ye pardon +me?" "Yes," answered they. Then the Badawi robber-chief began, + + +The Tale of Hammad the Badawi. + +And he said:—Know ye that a short while ago, I was sore wakeful one +night and thought the morn would never dawn; so, as soon as it was +break of day I rose, without stay or delay; and, slinging over my +shoulder my sword, mounted horse and set my lance in rest. Then I rode +out to sport and hunt and, as I went along, a company of men accosted +me and asked me whither I was bound I told them and they said, "We will +keep thee company." So we all fared on together, and, whilst we were +faring, lo and behold! up started an ostrich and we gave her chase, +but she escaped our pursuit and spreading wings ceased not to fly +before us (and we following by sight) till she lost us in a desert +wherein there was neither grass nor water, nor heard we aught therein +save hiss of snake and wail of Jinn and howl of Ghul; and when we +reached that place the ostrich disappeared nor could we tell whether +she had flown up into the sky or into the ground had gone down. Then +we turned our horses' heads and thought to return; but found that to +retrace our steps at that time of burning heat would be toilsome and +dangerous; for the sultry air was grievous to us, so that we thirsted +with sore thirst and our steeds stood still. We made sure of death; +but while we were in this case we suddenly espied from afar a spacious +mead where gazelles were frisking Therein was a tent pitched and by the +tent side a horse tethered and a spear was planted with head glittering +in the sun.[FN#118] Upon this our hearts revived after we had +despaired, and we turned our horses' heads towards that tent making for +the meadow and the water which irrigated it; and all my comrades fared +for it and I at their head, and we ceased not faring till we reached +the mead. Then we alighted at the spring and watered our beasts. But I +was seized with a fever of foolish curiosity and went up to the door of +that tent, wherein I saw a young man, without hair on his cheeks, who +fellowed the new moon; and on his right hand was a slender-waisted +maid, as she were a willow-wand. No sooner did I set eyes on her than +love get hold upon my heart and I saluted the youth, who returned my +greeting. Then said I, "O my brother, tell me who thou art and what to +thee is this damsel sitting by thy side?"[FN#119] Thereupon the youth +bent his head groundwards awhile, then raised it and replied, "Tell me +first who thou art and what are these horsemen with thee?" Answered I, +"I am Hammad son of al-Fazari, the renowned knight, who is reckoned +among the Arabs as five hundred horse. We went forth from our place +this morning to sport and chase and were overcome by thirst; so I came +to the door of this tent, thinking haply to get of thee a draught of +water." When he heard these my words, he turned to the fair maiden and +said, "Bring this man water and what food there is ready." So she arose +trailing her skirts, whilst the golden bangles tinkled on her ankles +and her feet stumbled in her long locks, and she disappeared for a +little while. Presently she returned bearing in her right hand a +silver vessel full of cold water and in her left hand a bowl brimming +with milk and dates, together with some flesh of wild cattle. But I +could take of her nor meat nor drink for the excess of my passion, and +I applied to her these two couplets, saying, + +"It was as though the sable dye[FN#120] upon her palms, * + Were raven perching on a swathe of freshest snow; +Thou seest Sun and Moon conjoined in her face, * + While Sun fear-dimmed and Moon fright-pallid show." + +After I had eaten and drunk I said to the youth, "Know thou, O Chief of +the Arabs, that I have told thee in all truth who and what I am, and +now I would fain have thee do the like by me and tell me the truth of +thy case." Replied the young man, "As for this damsel she is my +sister." Quoth I, "It is my desire that thou give me her to wife of thy +free will: else will I slay thee and take her by force." Upon this, he +bowed his head groundwards awhile, then he raised his eyes to me and +answered, "Thou sayest sooth in avouching thyself a renowned knight and +famed in fight and verily thou art the lion of the desert; but if ye +all attack me treacherously and slay me in your wrath and take my +sister by force, it will be a stain upon your honour. An you be, as ye +aver, cavaliers who are counted among the Champions and reck not the +shock of foray and fray, give me a little time to don my armour and +sling on my sword and set lance in rest and mount war steed. Then will +we go forth into the field of fight, I and you; and, if I conquer you, +I will kill you to the last man; but if you overcome me and slay me, +this damsel, my sister, is yours." Hearing such words I replied, "This +is only just, and we oppose it not." Then I turned back my horse's head +(for my love for the damsel waxed hotter and hotter) and returned to my +companions, to whom I set forth her beauty and loveliness as also the +comeliness of the young man who was with her, together with his velour +and strength of soul and how he had avouched himself a match for a +thousand horse. Moreover, I described to my company the tent and all +the riches and rarities therein and said to them, "Know ye that this +youth would not have cut himself off from society and have taken up his +abode alone in this place, were he not a man of great prowess: so I +propose that whoso slayeth the younker shall take his sister." And they +said, "This contenteth us." Then my company armed themselves and +mounting, rode to the tent, where we found that the young man had +donned his gear and backed his steed; but his sister ran up to him (her +veil being drenched with tears), and took hold of his stirrup and cried +out, saying, "Alas!" and, "Woe worth the day!" in her fear for her +brother, and recited these couplets, + +"To Allah will I make my moan of travail and of woe, * + Maybe Iláh of Arsh[FN#121] will smite their faces with + affright: +Fain would they slay thee, brother mine, with purpose + felon-fell; * Albe no cause of vengeance was, nor fault + forewent the fight. +Yet for a rider art thou known to those who back the steed, * + And twixt the East and West of knights thou art the prowess + knight: +Thy sister's honour thou shalt guard though little might be + hers, * For thou'rt her brother and for thee she sueth + Allah's might: +Then let not enemy possess my soul nor 'thrall my frame, * + And work on me their will and treat thy sister with + despight. +I'll ne'er abide, by Allah's truth, in any land or home * + Where thou art not, though dight it be with joyance and + delight +For love and yearning after thee myself I fain will slay, * + And in the gloomy darksome tomb spread bed upon the clay." + +But when her brother heard her verse he wept with sore weeping and +turned his horse's head towards his sister and made this answer to her +poetry, + +"Stand by and see the derring-do which I to-day will show, * + When meet we and I deal them blows that rend and cleave and + split; +E'en though rush out to seek a bout the lion of the war, * + The stoutest hearted brave of all and eke the best in wit; +To him I'll deal without delay a Sa'alabiyan blow,[FN#122] * + And dye my cane-spear's joint in blood by wound of foe + bespit: +If all I beat not off from thee, O sister, may this frame * + Be slain, and cast my corpse to birds, for so it would + befit: +Yes, for thy dearest sake I'll strike my blows with might and + main, * And when we're gone shall this event in many a book + be writ." + +And when he had ended his verse, he said, "O my sister, give ear to +what I shall enjoin on thee"; whereto she replied, "Hearkening and +obedience." Quoth he, "If I fall, let none possess thy person;" and +thereupon she buffeted her face and said, "Allah forbid, O my brother, +that I should see thee laid low and yield myself to thy foe!" With this +the youth put out his hand to her and withdrew her veil from her face, +whereupon it shone forth as the sun shineth out from the white clouds. +Then he kissed her between the eyes and bade her farewell; after which +he turned to us and said, "Holla, Knights! Come ye as guests or crave +ye cuts and thrusts? If ye come to us as your hosts, rejoice ye in the +guest rite; and, if ye covet the shining moon, come ye out against me, +knight by knight, into this plain and place of fight." There upon +rushed out to him a doughty rider and the young man said to him, "Tell +me thy name and thy father's name, for I am under an oath not to slay +any whose name tallies with mine and whose father's name is that of my +father; and if this be the case with thee, I will give thee up the +maid." Quoth the horseman, "My name is Bilál;"[FN#123] and the young +man answered him, saying, + +"Thou liest when speaking of 'benefits,' while * + Thou comest to front with shine evillest will +An of prowess thou'rt prow, to my words give ear, * + I'm he who make' champions in battle-field reel +With keen blade, like the horn of the cusped moon, * + So 'ware thrust the, shall drill through the duress hill!" + +Then they charged down, each at each, and the youth thrust his +adversary in the breast so that the lance head issued from his back. +With tints, another came out, and the youth cried, + +"Ho thou hound, who art rotten with foulness in grain,[FN#124] * + What high meed is there easy for warrior to gain? +'Tis none save the lion of strain purest pure * + Who uncareth for life in the battle plain!" + +Nor was it long before the youth left him drowned in his blood and +cried out, "Who will come forth to me?" So a third horse man rushed out +upon the youth and began saying, + +"To thee come I forth with my heart a-flame, * + And summon my friends and my comrades by name: +When thou slewest the chief of the Arabs this day, * + This day thou remainest the pledge of my claim." + +Now when the youth heard this he answered him in these words, + +"Thou liest, O foulest of Satans that are, * + And with easings calumnious thou comest to war +This day thou shalt fall by a death dealing point * + Where the lances lunge and the scymitars jar!" + +Then he so foined him in the breast that the spear-point issued from +his back and he cried out, saying, "Ho! will none come out? So a +fourth fared forwards and the youth asked him his name and he answered, +"My name is Hilál, the New Moon." And the youth began repeating, + +"Thou hast failed who would sink me in ruin sea, * + Thou who camest in malice with perfidy: +I, whose verses hast heard from the mouth of me, * + Will ravish thy soul though unknown to thee." + +Then they drave at each other and delivered two cuts, but the youth's +stroke devanced that of the rider his adversary and slew him: and thus +he went on to kill all who sallied out against him. Now when I saw my +comrades slain, I said to myself, "If I go down to fight with him, I +shall not be able to prevail against him; and, if I flee, I shall +become a byword of shame among the Arabs." But the youth gave me no +time to think, for he ran at me and dragged me from my saddle and +hurled me to the ground. I fainted at the fall and he raised his sword +designing to cut off my head; but I clung to his skirts, and he lifted +me in his hand as though I were a sparrow. When the maiden saw this, +she rejoiced in her brother's prowess and coming up to him, kissed him +between the eyes. Then he delivered me to her, saying, "Take him and +look to him and entreat him hospitably, for he is come under our rule." +So she took hold of the collar of my hauberk[FN#125] and led me away by +it as one would lead a dog. Then she did off her brother's coat of mail +and clad him in a robe, and set for him a stool of ivory, on which he +sat down; and she said to him, "Allah whiten thy honour and prevent +from thee the shifts of fortune!" And he answered her with these +couplets, + +"My sister said, as saw she how I stood * + In fight, when sun-rays lit my knightlihood +'Allah assain thee for a Brave of braves * + To whom in vale bow lions howso wood!' +Quoth I, 'Go ask the champions of my case, * + When feared the Lords of war my warrior mood! +My name is famed for fortune and for force, * + And soared my spirit to such altitude,' +Ho thou, Hammád, a lion hast upstirred, * + Shall show thee speedy death like viper brood." + +Now when I heard his verse, I was perplexed as to my case and +considering my condition and how I was become a captive, I was lowered +in my own esteem. Then I looked at the damsel, his sister, and seeing +her beauty I said to myself, "'Tis she who caused all this trouble"; +and I fell a-marvelling at her loveliness till the tears streamed from +my eyes and I recited these couplets, + +"Dear friend! ah leave thy loud reproach and blame; * + Such blame but irks me yet may not alarm: +I'm clean distraught for one whom saw I not * + Without her winning me by winsome charm +Yestreen her brother crossed me in her love, * + A Brave stout-hearted and right long of arm." + +Then the maiden set food before her brother and he bade me eat with +him, whereat I rejoiced and felt assured that I should not be slain. +And when he had ended eating, she brought him a flagon of pure wine and +he applied him to it till the fumes of the drink mounted to his head +and his face flushed red. Then he turned to me and said, "Woe to thee, +O Hammad! dost thou know me or not?" Replied I, "By thy life, I am +rich in naught save ignorance!' Quoth he, "O Hammad, I am 'Abbád bin +Tamím bin Sa'labah and indeed Allah giveth thee thy liberty and leadeth +thee to a happy bride and spareth thee confusion." Then he drank to my +long life and gave me a cup of wine and I drank it off; and presently +he filled me a second and a third and a fourth, and I drained them all; +while he made merry with me and swore me never to betray him. So I +sware to him one thousand five hundred oaths that I would never deal +perfidiously with him at any time, but that I would be a friend and a +helper to him. Thereupon he bade his sister bring me ten suits of silk, +so she brought them and laid them on my person, and this dress I have +on my body is one of them. Moreover, he made bring one of the best of +his she- dromedaries[FN#126] carrying stuffs and provaunt, he bade her +also bring a sorrel horse, and when they were brought he gave the whole +of them to me. I abode with them three days, eating and drinking, and +what he gave me of gifts is with me to this present. At the end of the +three days he said to me, "O Hammad, O my brother, I would sleep awhile +and take my rest and verily I trust my life to thee; but, if thou see +horsemen making hither, fear not, for know that they are of the Banu +Sa'labah, seeking to wage war on me." Then he laid his sword under his +head-pillow and slept; and when he was drowned in slumber Iblis tempted +me to slay him; so I arose in haste, and drawing the sword from under +his head, dealt him a blow that made his head fall from his body. But +his sister knew what I had done, and rushing out from within the tent, +threw herself on his corpse, rending her raiment and repeating these +couplets, + +"To kith and kin bear thou sad tidings of our plight; * + From doom th' All-wise decreed shall none of men take + flight: +Low art thou laid, O brother! strewn upon the stones, * + With face that mirrors moon when shining brightest bright! +Good sooth, it is a day accurst, thy slaughter-day * + Shivering thy spear that won the day in many a fight! +Now thou be slain no rider shall delight in steed, * + Nor man child shall the breeding woman bring to light. +This morn Hammád uprose and foully murthered thee, * + Falsing his oath and troth with foulest perjury." + +When she had ended her verse she said to me, "O thou of accursed +forefathers, wherefore didst thou play my brother false and slay him +when he purposed returning thee to thy native land with provisions; and +it was his intent also to marry thee to me at the first of the month?" +Then she drew a sword she had with her, and planting the hilt in the +earth, with the point set to her breast, she bent over it and threw +herself thereon till the blade issued from her back and she fell to the +ground, dead. I mourned for her and wept and repented when repentance +availed me naught. Then I arose in haste and went to the tent and, +taking whatever was light of load and weighty of worth, went my way; +but in my haste and horror I took no heed of my dead comrades, nor did +I bury the maiden and the youth. And this my tale is still more +wondrous than the story of the serving-girl I kidnapped from the Holy +City, Jerusalem. But when Nuzhat al-Zaman heard these words from the +Badawi, the light was changed in her eyes to night.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat +al-Zaman heard these words from the Badawi, the light was changed in +her eyes to night, and she rose and drawing the sword, smote Hammad the +Arab between the shoulder-blades so that the point issued from the +apple of his throat.[FN#127] And when all present asked her, 'Why hast +thou made haste to slay him;" she answered, "Praised be Allah who hath +granted me in my life tide to avenge myself with mine own hand!" And +she bade the slaves drag the body out by the feet and cast it to the +dogs. Thereupon they turned to the two prisoners who remained of the +three; and one of them was a black slave, so they said to him, What is +thy name, fellow? Tell us the truth of thy case." He replied, "As for +me my name is Al-Ghazbán," and acquainted them what had passed between +himself and Queen Abrizah, daughter of King Hardub, Lord of Greece, and +how he had slain her and fled. Hardly had the negro made an end of his +story, when King Rumzan struck off his head with his scymitar, saying, +Praise to Allah who gave me life! I have avenged my mother with my own +hand." Then he repeated to them what his nurse Marjanah had told him of +this same slave whose name was Al-Ghazban; after which they turned to +the third prisoner. Now this was the very camel- driver[FN#128] whom +the people of the Holy City, Jerusalem, hired to carry Zau al-Makan and +lodge him in the hospital at Damascus of Syria; but he threw him down +on the ashes midden and went his way. And they said to him, "Acquaint +us with thy case and tell the truth." So he related to them all that +had happened to him with Sultan Zau al-Makan; how he had been carried +from the Holy City, at the time when he was sick, till they made +Damascus and he had been thrown into the hospital; how also the +Jerusalem folk had paid the cameleer money to transport the stranger to +Damascus, and he had taken it and fled after casting his charge upon +the midden by the side of the ash-heap of the Hammam. But when he +ended his words, Sultan Kanmakan took his sword forthright and cut off +his head, saying, "Praised be Allah who hath given me life, that I +might requite this traitor what he did with my father, for I have heard +this very story from King Zau al-Makan himself." Then the Kings said +each to other, "It remaineth only for us to wreak our revenge upon the +old woman Shawahi, yclept Zat al-Dawahi, because she is the prime cause +of all these calamities and cast us into adversity on this wise. Who +will deliver her into our hands that we may avenge ourselves upon her +and wipe out our dishonour?" And King Rumzan said, "Needs must we bring +her hither." So without stay or delay he wrote a letter to his +grandmother, the aforesaid ancient woman, giving her to know therein +that he had subdued the kingdoms of Damascus and Mosul and Irak, and +had broken up the host of the Moslems and captured their princes, +adding, "I desire thee of all urgency to come to me, bringing with thee +Queen Sophia, daughter of King Afridun, and whom thou wilt of the +Nazarene chiefs, but no armies; for the country is quiet and wholly +under our hand." And when she read the letter and recognised the +handwriting of King Rumzan, she rejoiced with great joy and forthright +equipping herself and Queen Sophia, set out with their attendants and +journeyed, without stopping, till they drew near Baghdad. Then she +foresent a messenger to acquaint the King of her arrival, whereupon +quoth Rumzan, "We should do well to don the habit of the Franks and +fare forth to meet the old woman, to the intent that we may be assured +against her craft and perfidy." Whereto Kanmakan replied, "Hearing is +consenting." So they clad themselves in Frankish clothes and, when +Kuzia Fakan saw them, she exclaimed, "By the truth of the Lord of +Worship, did I not know you, I should take you to be indeed Franks!" +Then they sallied forth with a thousand horse, King Rumzan riding on +before them, to meet the old woman. As soon as his eyes fell on hers, +he dismounted and walked towards her and she, recognizing him, +dismounted also and embraced him, but he pressed her ribs with his +hands, till he well nigh broke them. Quoth she, "What is this, O my +son?" But before she had done speaking, up came Kanmakan and Dandan; +and the horsemen with them cried out at the women and slaves and took +them all prisoners. Then the two Kings returned to Baghdad, with their +captives, and Rumzan bade them decorate the city which they did for +three days, at the end of which they brought out the old woman Shawahi, +highs Zat al- Dawahi, with a peaked red turband of palm-leaves on her +head, diademed with asses' dung and preceded by a herald proclaiming +aloud, "This is the reward of those who presume to lay hands on Kings +and the sons of Kings!" Then they crucified her on one of the gates of +Baghdad; and, when her companions saw what befel her, all embraced in a +body the faith of Al-Islam. As for Kanmakan and his uncle Rumzan and +his aunt Nuzhat al-Zaman and the Wazir Dandan, they marvelled at the +wonderful events that had betided them and bade the scribes chronicle +them in books that those who came after might read. Then they all +abode for the remainder of their days in the enjoyment of every solace +and comfort of life, till there overtook them the Destroyer of all +delights and the Sunderer of all societies. And this is the whole that +hath come down to us of the dealings of fortune with King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman and his sons Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan and his son's son +Kanmakan and his daughter Nuzhat al-Zaman and her daughter Kuzia Fakan. + Thereupon quoth Shahryar to Shahrazad, "I desire that thou tell me +somewhat about birds;" and hearing this Dunyazad said to her sister, "I +have never seen the Sultan light at heart all this while till the +present night, and his pleasure garreth me hope that the issue for thee +with him may be a happy issue." Then drowsiness overcame the Sultan, so +he slept;[FN#129]—And Shahrazad perceived the approach of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Night, + +Shahrazad began to relate, in these words, the tale of + + +THE BIRDS AND BEASTS AND THE CARPENTER[FN#130] + +Quoth she, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that in times of yore +and in ages long gone before, a peacock abode with his wife on the +seashore. Now the place was infested with lions and all manner wild +beasts, withal it abounded in trees and streams. So cock and hen were +wont to roost by night upon one of the trees, being in fear of the +beasts, and went forth by day questing food. And they ceased not thus +to do till their fear increased on them and they searched for some +place wherein to dwell other than their old dwelling place; and in the +course of their search behold, they happened on an island abounding in +streams and trees. So they alighted there and ate of its fruits and +drank of its waters. But whilst they were thus engaged, lo! up came to +them a duck in a state of extreme terror, and stayed not faring +forwards till she reached the tree whereon were perched the two +peafowl, when she seemed re assured in mind. The peacock doubted not +but that she had some rare story; so he asked her of her case and the +cause of her concern, whereto she answered, "I am sick for sorrow, and +my horror of the son of Adam:[FN#131] so beware, and again I say beware +of the sons of Adam!" Rejoined the peacock, "Fear not now that thou +hast won our protection." Cried the duck, "Alhamdolillah! glory to God, +who hath done away my cark and care by means of you being near! For +indeed I come of friendship fain with you twain." And when she had +ended her speech the peacock's wife came down to her and said, "Well +come and welcome and fair cheer! No harm shall hurt thee: how can son +of Adam come to us and we in this isle which lieth amiddlemost of the +sea? From the land he cannot reach us neither can he come against us +from the water. So be of good cheer and tell us what hath betided thee +from the child of Adam." Answered the duck, "Know, then, O thou peahen, +that of a truth I have dwelt all my life in this island safely and +peacefully, nor have I seen any disquieting thing, till one night, as I +was asleep, I sighted in my dream the semblance of a son of Adam, who +talked with me and I with him. Then I heard a voice say to me, 'O thou +duck, beware of the son of Adam and be not imposed on by his words nor +by that he may suggest to thee; for he aboundeth in wiles and guiles; +so beware with all wariness of his perfidy, for again I say, he is +crafty and right cunning even as singeth of him the poet, + + He'll offer sweetmeats with his edgčd tongue, * + And fox thee with the foxy guile of fox. + +And know thou that the son of Adam circumventeth the fishes and draweth +them forth of the seas; and he shooteth the birds with a pellet of +clay[FN#132] and trappeth the elephant with his craft. None is safe +from his mischief and neither bird nor beast escapeth him; and on this +wise have I told thee what I have heard concerning the son of Adam.' So +I awoke, fearful and trembling and from that hour to this my heart hath +not known gladness, for dread of the son of Adam, lest he surprise me +unawares by his wile or trap me in his snares. By the time the end of +the day overtook me, my strength was grown weak and my spunk failed me; +so, desiring to eat and drink, I went forth walking, troubled in spirit +and with a heart ill at ease. Now when I reached yonder mountain I saw +a tawny lion whelp at the door of a cave, and sighting me he joyed in +me with great joy, for my colour pleased him and my gracious shape; so +he cried out to me saying, 'Draw nigh unto me.' I went up to him and he +asked me, 'What is thy name, and what is thy nature?' Answered I, 'My +name is Duck, and I am of the bird kind;' and I added, 'But thou, why +tarriest thou in this place till this time?' Answered the whelp, 'My +father the lion hath for many a day warned me against the son of Adam, +and it came to pass this night that I saw in my sleep the semblance of +a son of Adam.' And he went on to tell me the like of that I have told +you. When I heard these words, I said to him, 'O lion, I take asylum +with thee, that thou mayest kill the son of Adam and be steadfast in +resolve to his slaughter; verily I fear him for myself with extreme +fear and to my fright affright is added for that thou also dreadest the +son of Adam, albeit thou art Sultan of savage beasts.' Then I ceased +not, O my sister, to bid the young lion beware of the son of Adam and +urge him to slay him, till he rose of a sudden and at once from his +stead and went out and he fared on, and I after him and I noted him +lashing flanks with tail. We advanced in the same order till we came to +a place where the roads forked and saw a cloud of dust arise which, +presently clearing away, discovered below it a runaway naked ass, now +galloping and running at speed and now rolling in the dust. When the +lion saw the ass, he cried out to him, and he came up to him in all +humility. Then said the lion, 'Harkye, crack brain brute! What is thy +kind and what be the cause of thy coming hither?' He replied, 'O son of +the Sultan! I am by kind an ass— Asinus Caballus—and the cause of my +coming to this place is that I am fleeing from the son of Adam.' Asked +the lion whelp, 'Dost thou fear then that he will kill thee?' Answered +the ass, 'Not so, O son of the Sultan, but I dread lest he put a cheat +on me and mount upon me; for he hath a thing called Pack saddle, which +he setteth on my back; also a thing called Girths which he bindeth +about my belly; and a thing called Crupper which he putteth under my +tail, and a thing called Bit which he placeth in my mouth: and he +fashioneth me a goad[FN#133] and goadeth me with it and maketh me run +more than my strength. If I stumble he curseth me, and if I bray, he +revileth me;[FN#134] and at last when I grow old and can no longer run, +he putteth on me a panel[FN#135] of wood and delivereth me to the water +carriers, who load my back with water from the river in skins and other +vessels, such as jars, and I cease not to wone in misery and abasement +and fatigue till I die, when they cast me on the rubbish-heaps to the +dogs. So what grief can surpass this grief and what calamities can be +greater than these calamities?' Now when I heard, O peahen, the ass's +words, my skin shuddered, and became as gooseflesh at the son of Adam; +and I said to the lion whelp, 'O my lord, the ass of a verity hath +excuse and his words add terror to my terror.' Then quoth the young +lion to the ass, 'Whither goest thou?' Quoth he, 'Before sunrise I +espied the son of Adam afar off, and fled from him; and now I am minded +to flee forth and run without ceasing for the greatness of my fear of +him, so haply I may find me a place of shelter from the perfidious son +of Adam.' Whilst the ass was thus discoursing with the lion whelp, +seeking the while to take leave of us and go away, behold, appeared to +us another cloud of dust, whereat the ass brayed and cried out and +looked hard and let fly a loud fart[FN#136]. After a while the dust +lifted and discovered a black steed finely dight with a blaze on the +forehead like a dirham round and bright;[FN#137] handsomely marked +about the hoof with white and with firm strong legs pleasing to sight +and he neighed with affright. This horse ceased not running till he +stood before the whelp, the son of the lion who, when he saw him, +marvelled and made much of him and said, 'What is thy kind, O majestic +wild beast and wherefore freest thou into this desert wide and vast?' +He replied, O lord of wild beasts, I am a steed of the horse kind, and +the cause of my running is that I am fleeing from the son of Adam.' The +lion whelp wondered at the horse's speech and cried to him Speak not +such words for it is shame to thee, seeing that thou art tall and +stout. And how cometh it that thou fearest the son of Adam, thou, with +thy bulk of body and thy swiftness of running when I, for all my +littleness of stature am resolved to encounter the son of Adam and, +rushing on him, eat his flesh, that I may allay the affright of this +poor duck and make her dwell in peace in her own place? But now thou +hast come here and thou hast wrung my heart with thy talk and turned me +back from what I had resolved to do, seeing that, for all thy bulk, the +son of Adam hath mastered thee and hath feared neither thy height nor +thy breadth, albeit, wert thou to kick him with one hoof thou wouldst +kill him, nor could he prevail against thee, but thou wouldst make him +drink the cup of death.' The horse laughed when he heard the whelps +words and replied, 'Far, far is it from my power to overcome him, O +Prince. Let not my length and my breadth nor yet my bulk delude thee +with respect to the son of Adam; for that he, of the excess of his +guile and his wiles, fashioneth me a thing called Hobble and applieth +to my four legs a pair of ropes made of palm fibres bound with felt, +and gibbeteth me by the head to a high peg, so that I being tied up +remain standing and can neither sit nor lie down. And when he is minded +to ride me, he bindeth on his feet a thing of iron called +Stirrup[FN#138] and layeth on my back another thing called Saddle, +which he fasteneth by two Girths passed under my armpits. Then he +setteth in my mouth a thing of iron he calleth Bit, to which he tieth a +thing of leather called Rein; and, when he sitteth in the saddle on my +back, he taketh the rein in his hand and guideth me with it, goading my +flanks the while with the shovel stirrups till he maketh them bleed. So +do not ask, O son of our Sultan, the hardships I endure from the son of +Adam. And when I grow old and lean and can no longer run swiftly, he +selleth me to the miller who maketh me turn in the mill, and I cease +not from turning night and day till I grow decrepit. Then he in turn +vendeth me to the knacker who cutteth my throat and flayeth off my hide +and plucketh out my tail, which he selleth to the sieve maker; and he +melteth down my fat for tallow candles.' When the young lion heard the +horse's words, his rage and vexation redoubled and he said, 'When didst +thou leave the son of Adam? Replied the horse, 'At midday and he is +upon my track.' Whilst the whelp was thus conversing with the horse lo! +there rose a cloud of dust and, presently opening out, discovered below +it a furious camel gurgling and pawing the earth with his feet and +never ceasing so to do till he came up with us. Now when the lion whelp +saw how big and buxom he was, he took him to be the son of Adam and was +about to spring upon him when I said to him, 'O Prince, of a truth this +is not the son of Adam, this be a camel, and he seemeth to fleeing from +the son of Adam.' As I was thus conversing, O my sister, with the lion +whelp, the camel came up and saluted him; whereupon he returned the +greeting and said, 'What bringeth thee hither?' Replied he, 'I came +here fleeing from the son of Adam.' Quoth the whelp, 'And thou, with +thy huge frame and length and breadth, how cometh it that thou fearest +the son of Adam, seeing that with one kick of thy foot thou wouldst +kill him?' Quoth the camel, 'O son of the Sultan, know that the son of +Adam hath subtleties and wiles, which none can withstand nor can any +prevail against him, save only Death; for he putteth into my nostrils a +twine of goat's hair he calleth Nose- ring,[FN#139] and over my head a +thing he calleth Halter; then he delivereth me to the least of his +little children, and the youngling draweth me along by the nose ring, +my size and strength notwithstanding. Then they load me with the +heaviest of burdens and go long journeys with me and put me to hard +labour through the hours of the night and the day. When I grow old and +stricken in years and disabled from working, my master keepeth me not +with him, but selleth me to the knacker who cutteth my throat and +vendeth my hide to the tanners and my flesh to the cooks: so do not ask +the hardships I suffer from the son of Adam.' 'When didst thou leave +the son of Adam?' asked the young lion; and he answered, 'At sundown, +and I suppose that coming to my place after my departure and not +finding me there, he is now in search of me: wherefore let me go, O son +of the Sultan, that I may flee into the wolds and the wilds.' Said the +whelp, 'Wait awhile, O camel, till thou see how I will tear him, and +give thee to eat of his flesh, whilst I craunch his bones and drink his +blood.' Replied the camel, 'O King's son, I fear for thee from the +child of Adam, for he is wily and guilefull.' And he began repeating +these verses:— + + 'When the tyrant enters the lieges' land, * + Naught remains for the lieges but quick remove!' + +Now whilst the camel was speaking with the lion whelp, behold, there +rose a cloud of dust which, after a time, opened and showed an old man +scanty of stature and lean of limb; and he bore on his shoulder a +basket of carpenter's tools and on his head a branch of a tree and +eight planks. He led little children by the hand and came on at a +trotting pace,[FN#140] never stopping till he drew near the whelp. When +I saw him, O my sister, I fell down for excess of fear; but the young +lion rose and walked forward to meet the carpenter and when he came up +to him, the man smiled in his face and said to him, with a glib tongue +and in courtly terms, 'O King who defendeth from harm and lord of the +long arm, Allah prosper thine evening and thine endeavouring and +increase thy valiancy and strengthen thee! Protect me from that which +hath distressed me and with its mischief hath oppressed me, for I have +found no helper save only thyself.' And the carpenter stood in his +presence weeping and wailing and complaining. When the whelp heard his +sighing and his crying he said, 'I will succour thee from that thou +fearest. Who hath done thee wrong and what art thou, O wild beast, +whose like in my life I never saw, nor ever espied one goodlier of form +or more eloquent of tongue than thou? What is thy case?' Replied the +man, 'O lord of wild beasts, as to myself I am a carpenter; but as to +who hath wronged me, verily he is a son of Adam, and by break of dawn +after this coming night[FN#141] he will be with thee in this place.' +When the lion whelp heard these words of the carpenter, the light was +changed to night before his sight and he snorted and roared with ire +and his eyes cast forth sparks of fire. Then he cried out saying, 'By +Allah, I will assuredly watch through this coming night till dawn, nor +will I return to my father till I have won my will.' Then he turned to +the carpenter and asked, 'Of a truth I see thou art short of step and I +would not hurt thy feelings for that I am generous of heart; yet do I +deem thee unable to keep pace with the wild beasts: tell me then +whither thou goest?' Answered the carpenter, 'Know that I am on my way +to thy father's Wazir, the lynx; for when he heard that the son of Adam +had set foot in this country he feared greatly for himself and sent one +of the wild beasts on a message for me, to make him a house wherein he +should dwell, that it might shelter him and fend off his enemy from +him, so not one of the sons of Adam should come at him. Accordingly I +took up these planks and set forth to find him.' Now when the young +lion heard these words he envied the lynx and said to the carpenter, +'By my life there is no help for it but thou make me a house with these +planks ere thou make one for Sir Lynx! When thou hast done my work, go +to him and make him whatso he wisheth.' The carpenter replied, 'O lord +of wild beasts, I cannot make thee aught till I have made the lynx what +he desireth: then will I return to thy service and build thee a house +as a fort to ward thee from thy foe.' Exclaimed the lion whelp, By +Allah, 'I will not let thee leave this place till thou build me a house +of planks.' So saying he made for the carpenter and sprang upon him, +thinking to jest with him, and cuffed him with his paw knocking the +basket off his shoulder; and threw him down in a fainting fit, +whereupon the young lion laughed at him and said, 'Woe to thee, O +carpenter, of a truth thou art feeble and hast no force; so it is +excusable in thee to fear the son of Adam.' Now when the carpenter fell +on his back, he waxed exceeding wroth; but he dissembled his wrath for +fear of the whelp and sat up and smiled in his face, saying, 'Well, I +will make for thee the house.' With this he took the planks he had +brought and nailed together the house, which he made in the form of a +chest after the measure of the young lion. And he left the door open, +for he had cut in the box a large aperture, to which he made a stout +cover and bored many holes therein. Then he took out some newly wrought +nails and a hammer and said to the young lion, 'Enter the house through +this opening, that I may fit it to thy measure.' Thereat the whelp +rejoiced and went up to the opening, but saw that it was strait; and +the carpenter said to him, 'Enter and crouch down on thy legs and +arms!' So the whelp did thus and entered the chest, but his tail +remained outside. Then he would have drawn back and come . out; but the +carpenter said to him, 'Wait patiently a while till I see if there be +room for thy tail with thee.' The young lion did as he was bid when the +carpenter twisted up his tail and, stuffing it into the chest, whipped +the lid on to the opening and nailed it down; whereat the whelp cried +out and said, 'O carpenter, what is this narrow house thou hast made +me? Let me out, sirrah!' But the carpenter answered, 'Far be it, far be +it from thy thought! Repentance for past avails naught, and indeed of +this place thou shalt not come out.' He then laughed and resumed, +'Verily thou art fallen into the trap and from thy duress there is no +escape, O vilest of wild beasts!' Rejoined the whelp, 'O my brother, +what manner of words are these thou addresses" to me?' The carpenter +replied 'know, O dog of the desert! that thou hast fa]len into that +which thou fearedst: Fate hath upset thee, nor shall caution set thee +up. ' When the whelp heard these words, O my sister, he knew that this +was indeed the very son of Adam, against whom he had been warned by his +sire in waking state and by the mysterious Voice in sleeping while; and +I also was certified that this was indeed he without doubt; wherefore +great fear of him for myself seized me and I withdrew a little apart +from him and waited to see what he would do with the young lion. Then I +saw, O my sister, the son of Adam dig a pit in that place hard by the +chest which held the whelp and, throwing the box into the hole, heap +dry wood upon it and burn the young lion with fire. At this sight, O +sister mine, my fear of the son of Adam redoubled and in my affright I +have been these two days fleeing from him." But when the peahen heard +from the duck this story,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the peahen +heard from the duck this story, she wondered with exceeding wonder and +said to her, "O my sister, here thou art safe from the son of Adam, for +we are in one of the islands of the sea whither there is no way for the +son of Adam; so do thou take up thine abode with us till Allah make +easy thy case and our case. Quoth the duck, "I fear lest some calamity +come upon me by night, for no runaway can rid him of fate by flight." +Rejoined the peahen, "Abide with us, and be like unto, us;" and ceased +not to persuade her, till she yielded, saying, "O my sister, thou +knowest how weak is my resistance; but verily had I not seen thee here, +I had not remained." Said the peahen, "That which is on our +foreheads[FN#142] we must indeed fulfil, and when our doomed day +draweth near, who shall deliver us? But not a soul departeth except it +have accomplished its predestined livelihood and term. Now the while +they talked thus, a cloud of dust appeared and approached them, at +sight of which the duck shrieked aloud and ran down into the sea, +crying out, "Beware! beware! though flight there is not from Fate and +Lot!"[FN#143] After awhile the dust opened out and discovered under it +an antelope; whereat the duck and the peahen were reassured and the +peacock's wife said to her companion, "O my sister, this thou seest and +wouldst have me beware of is an antelope, and here he is, making for +us. He will do us no hurt, for the antelope feedeth upon the herbs of +the earth and, even as thou art of the bird kind, so is he of the beast +kind. Be there fore of good cheer and cease care taking; for care +taking wasteth the body." Hardly had the peahen done speaking, when the +antelope came up to them, thinking to shelter him under the shade of +the tree; and, sighting the peahen and the duck, saluted them and said, +'I came to this island to-day and I have seen none richer in herbage +nor pleasanter for habitation." Then he besought them for company and +amity and, when they saw his friendly behaviour to them, they welcomed +him and gladly accepted his offer. So they struck up a sincere +friendship and sware thereto; and they slept in one place and they ate +and drank together; nor did they cease dwelling in safety, eating and +drinking their fill, till one day there came thither a ship which had +strayed from her course in the sea. She cast anchor near them and the +crew came forth and dispersed about the island. They soon caught sight +of the three friends, antelope, peahen and duck, and made for them; +whereupon the peahen flew up into the tree and thence winged her way +through air; and the antelope fled into the desert, but the duck abode +paralyzed by fear. So they chased her till they caught her and she +cried out and said, "Caution availed me naught against Fate and Lot!'; +and they bore her off to the ship. Now when the peahen saw what had +betided the duck, she removed from the island, saying, "I see that +misfortunes lie in ambush for all. But for yonder ship, parting had not +befallen between me and this duck, because she was one of the truest of +friends." Then she flew off and rejoined the antelope, who saluted her +and gave her joy of her safety and asked for the duck, to which she +replied, "The enemy hath taken her, and I loathe the sojourn of this +island after her." Then she wept for the loss of the duck and began +repeating, + + "The day of parting cut my heart in twain:* + In twain may Allah cut the parting-day! + +And she spake also this couplet, + + "I pray some day that we reunion gain, * + So may I tell him Parting's ugly way." + +The antelope sorrowed with great sorrow, but dissuaded the peahen from +her resolve to remove from the island. So they abode there together +with him, eating and drinking, in peace and safety, except that they +ceased not to mourn for the loss of the duck; and the antelope said to +the peahen, "O my sister, thou seest how the folk who came forth of the +ship were the cause of our severance from the duck and of her +destruction; so do thou beware of them and guard thyself from them and +from the wile of the son of Adam and his guile." But the peahen +replied, I am assured that nought caused her death save her neglecting +to say Subhan' Allah, glory to God; indeed I often said to her, +'Exclaim thou, 'Praised be Allah, and verily I fear for thee, because +thou neglectest to laud the Almighty; for all things created by Allah +glorify Him on this wise, and whoso neglecteth the formula of +praise[FN#144] him destruction waylays.'" When the antelope heard the +peahen's words he exclaimed, "Allah make fair thy face!" and betook +himself to repeating the formula of praise, and ceased not there from a +single hour. And it is said that his form of adoration was as follows, +"Praise be to the Requiter of every good and evil thing, the Lord of +Majesty and of Kings the King!" And a tale is also told on this wise of + + +The Hermits. + +A certain hermit worshipped on a certain mountain, whither resorted a +pair of pigeons; and the worshipper was wont to make two parts of his +daily bread,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the worshipper +was wont to make two parts of his daily bread, eating one half himself +and giving the other to the pigeon pair. He also prayed for them both +that they might be blest with issue so they increased and multiplied +greatly. Now they resorted only to that mountain where the hermit was, +and the reason of their fore- gathering with the holy man was their +assiduity in repeating "Praised be Allah!" for it is recounted that the +pigeon[FN#145] in praise, "Praised be the Creator of all Creatures, the +Distributor of daily bread, the Builder of the heavens and Dispreader +of the earths!" And that couple ceased not to dwell together in the +happiest of life, they and their brood till the holy man died, when the +company of the pigeons was broken up and they dispersed among the towns +and villages and mountains. Now it is told that on a certain other +mountain there dwelt a shepherd, a man of piety and good sense and +chastity; and he had flocks of sheep which he tended, and he made his +living by their milk and wool. The mountain which gave him a home +abounded in trees and pasturage and also in wild beasts, but these had +no power over his flocks; so he ceased not to dwell upon that highland +in full security, taking no thought to the things of the world, by +reason of his beatitude and his assiduity in prayer and devotion, till +Allah ordained that he should fall sick with exceeding sickness. +Thereupon he betook himself to a cavern in the mountain and his sheep +used to go out in the morning to the pasturage and take refuge at night +in the cave. But Allah Almighty, being minded to try him and prove his +patience and his obedience, sent him one of His angels, who came in to +him in the semblance of a fair woman and sat down before him. When the +shepherd saw that woman seated before him, his flesh shuddered at her +with horripilation[FN#146] and he said to her, 'O thou woman, what was +it invited thee to this my retreat? I have no need of thee, nor is +there aught betwixt me and thee which calleth for thy coming in to me." +Quoth she, "O man, cost thou not behold my beauty and loveliness and +the fragrance of my breath; and knowest thou not the need women have of +men and men of women? So who shall forbid thee from me when I have +chosen to be near thee and desire to enjoy thy company? Indeed, I come +to thee willingly and do not withhold myself from thee, and near us +there is none whom we need fear; and I wish to abide with thee as long +as thou sojournest in this mountain, and be thy companion and thy true +friend. I offer myself to thee, for thou needest the service of woman: +and if thou have carnal connection with me and know me, thy sickness +shall be turned from thee and health return to thee; and thou wilt +repent thee of the past for having foresworn the company of women +during the days that are now no more. In very sooth, I give thee good +advice: so incline to my counsel and approach me." Quoth the shepherd, +"Go out from me, O woman deceitful and perfidious! I will not incline +to thee nor approach thee. I want not thy company nor wish for union +with thee; he who coveteth the coming life renounceth thee, for thou +seducest mankind, those of past time and those of present time. Allah +the Most High lieth in wait for His servants and woe unto him who is +cursed with thy company!" Answered she, "O thou that errest from the +truth and wanderest from the way of reason, turn thy face to me and +look upon my charms and take thy full of my nearness, as did the wise +who have gone before thee. Indeed, they were richer than thou in +experience and sharper of wit; withal they rejected not, as thou +rejectest, the enjoyment of women; nay, they took their pleasure of +them and their company even as thou renouncest them, and it did them no +hurt in things temporal or things spiritual. Wherefore do thou recede +from thy resolve and thou shalt praise the issue of thy case." Rejoined +the shepherd, "All thou sayest I deny and abhor, and all thou offerest +I reject: for thou art cunning and perfidious and there is no honesty +in thee nor is there honour. How much of foulness hidest thou under thy +beauty, and how many a pious man hast thou seduced from his duty and +made his end penitence and perdition? Avaunt from me, O thou who +devotest thyself to corrupt others!" Thereupon, he threw his goat's +hair cloak over his head that he might not see her face, and betook +himself to calling upon the name of his Lord. And when the angel saw +the excellence of his submission to the Divine Will, he went out from +him and ascended to heaven. Now hard by the hermit's hill was a village +wherein dwelt a pious man, who knew not the other's station, till one +night he heard in a dream a Voice saying to him, "In such a place near +to thee is a devout man: go thou to him and be at his command!" So when +morning dawned he set out to wend thither, and what time the heat was +grievous upon him, he came to a tree which grew beside a spring of +running water. So he sat down to rest in the shadow of that tree and +behold, he saw beasts and birds coming to that fount to drink, but when +they caught sight of the devotee sitting there, they took fright and +fled from before his face. Then said he, "There is no Majesty and there +is no Might save in Allah! I rest not here but to the hurt of these +beasts and fowls." So he arose, blaming him self and saying, "Verily my +tarrying here this day hath wronged these animals, and what excuse have +I towards my Creator and the Creator of these birds and beasts for that +I was the cause of their flight from their drink and their daily food +and their place of pasturage? Alas for my shame before my Lord on the +day when He shall avenge the hornless sheep on the sheep with +horns!''[FN#147] And he wept and began repeating these couplets, + +"Now an, by Allah, unto man were fully known * + Why he is made, in careless sleep he ne'er would wone: +First Death, then cometh Wake and dreadful Day of Doom, * + Reproof with threats sore terror, frightful malison. +Bid we or else forbid we, all of us are like * + The Cave companions[FN#148] when at length their sleep was + done." + +Then he again wept for that he had driven the birds and beasts from the +spring by sitting down under the tree, and he fared on till he came to +the shepherd's dwelling and going in, saluted him. The shepherd +returned his salutation and embraced him, weeping and saying, "What +hath brought thee to this place where no man hath ever yet come to me." +Quoth the other devotee, "I saw in my sleep one who described to me +this thy stead and bade me repair to thee and salute thee: so I came, +in obedience to the commandment." The shepherd welcomed him, rejoicing +in his company and the twain abode upon that mountain, worshipping +Allah with the best of worship; and they ceased not serving their Lord +in the cavern and living upon the flesh and milk of their sheep, having +clean put away from them riches and children and what not, till the +Certain, the Inevitable became their lot. And this is the end of their +story. Then said King Shahyrar, "O Shahrazad, thou wouldst cause me to +renounce my kingdom and thou makest me repent of having slain so many +women and maidens. Hast thou any bird stories?" "Yes," replied she, and +began to tell the + + +TALE OF THE WATER FOWL AND THE TORTOISE. + +It is related by truthful men, O King, that a certain bird flew high up +firmament wards and presently lit on a rock in the midst of water which +was running. And as he sat there, behold, the current carried to him +the carcass of a man, and lodged it against the rock, for being swollen +it floated. The bird, which was a water fowl, drew near and examining +it, found that it was the dead body of a son of Adam and saw in it sign +of spear and stroke of sword. So he said to himself, "I presume that +this man who hath been slain was some evil doer, and that a company +banded themselves together against him and put him to death and were at +peace from him and his evil doing." And as he continued marvelling at +this, suddenly the vultures and kites came down upon the carcass from +all sides and get round it; which when the water fowl saw, he feared +with sore affright and said, "I cannot abide here any longer." So he +flew away in quest of a place where he might wone, till that carcass +should come to an end and the birds of prey leave it; and he stayed not +in his flight, till he found a river with a tree in its midst. So he +alighted on the tree, troubled and distraught and sore grieved for +departing from his birth place, and said to himself, "Verily sorrows +cease not to follow me: I was at my ease when I saw that carcass, and +rejoiced therein with much joy, saying, 'This is a gift of daily bread +which Allah hath dealt to me:' but my joy became annoy and my gladness +turned to sadness, for the ravenous birds, which are like lions, seized +upon it and tare it to pieces and came between me and my prize So how +can I hope to be secure from misfortune in this world, or put any trust +therein? Indeed, the proverb saith,'The world is the dwelling of him +who hath no dwelling': he who hath no wits is cozened by it and +entrusteth it with his wealth and his child and his family and his +folk; and whoso is cozened ceaseth not to rely upon it, pacing proudly +upon earth until he is laid under earth and the dust is cast over his +corpse by him who of all men was dearest to him and nearest. But naught +is better for generous youth than patience under its cares and +miseries. I have left my native place and it is abhorrent to me to quit +my brethren and friends and loved ones." Now whilst he was thus musing +lo! a male tortoise descended into the river and, approaching the water +fowl, saluted him, saying, "O my lord, what hath exiled thee and driven +thee so far from thy place?" Replied the water fowl, "The descent of +enemies thereon; for the wise brooketh not the neighbourhood of his +foe; and how well saith the poet, + +Whenas on any land the oppressor doth alight, * There's nothing left +for those, that dwell therein, but flight.'''[FN#149] + +Quoth the tortoise, "If the matter be as thou sayest and the case as +thou describest, I will not leave thee nor cease to stand before thee, +that I may do thy need and fulfil thy service; for it is said that +there is no sorer desolation than that of him who is an exile, cut off +from friends and home; and it is also said that no calamity equalleth +that of severance from the good; but the best solace for men of +understanding is to seek companionship in strangerhood and be patient +under sorrows and adversity. Wherefore I hope that thou wilt approve of +my company, for I will be to thee a servant and a helper." Now when the +water fowl heard the tortoise's words he answered, "Verily, thou art +right in what thou sayest for, by my life, I have found grief and pain +in separation, what while I have been parted from my place and sundered +from my brethren and friends; seeing that in severance is an admonition +to him who will be admonished and matter of thought for him who will +take thought. If the generous youth find not a companion to console +him, weal is forever cut off from him and ill is eternally established +with him; and there is nothing for the sage but to solace himself in +every event with brethren and be constant in patience and endurance: +indeed these two are praiseworthy qualities, and both uphold one under +calamities and vicissitudes of the world and ward off startling sorrows +and harrowing cares, come what will." Rejoined the tortoise, "Beware of +sorrow, for it will spoil thy life and waste thy manliness." And the +two gave not over conversing till the bird said, "Never shall I cease +fearing the shifts of time and vicissitudes of events." When the +tortoise heard this, he came up to him and, kissing him between the +eyes, said to him, "Never may the company of the birds cease to be +blest in thee and through thee, and find wisdom in thy good counsel! +How shalt thou be burdened with care and harm?" And he went on to +comfort the water fowl and soothe his terrors till he became reassured. +Then he flew to the place where the carcass was and found on arriving +there the birds of prey gone, and they had left nothing of the body but +bones; whereupon he returned to the tortoise and acquainted him with +the fact that the foe had disappeared from his place, saying, "Know +that of a truth I long for return homewards to enjoy the society of my +friends; for the sage cannot endure separation from his native place." +So they both went thither and found naught to affright them; whereupon +the water fowl began repeating, + +"And haply whenas strait descends on lot of generous youth * + Right sore, with Allah only lies his issue from annoy: +He's straitened, but full oft when rings and meshes straitest + clip, * He 'scapes his strait and joyance finds, albe I see + no joy." + +So the twain abode in that island; and while the water fowl was +enjoying a life of peace and gladness, suddenly Fate led thither a +hungry falcon, which drove its talons into the bird's belly and killed +him, nor did caution avail him when his term of life was ended. Now the +cause of his death was that he neglected to use the formula of praise, +and it is said that his form of adoration was as follows, "Praised be +our Lord in that He ordereth and ordaineth; and praised be our Lord in +that He enricheth and impoverisheth!" Such was the waterfowl's end and +the tale of the ravenous birds. And when it was finished quoth the +Sultan, "O Shahrazad, verily thou overwhelmest me with admonitions and +salutary instances. Hast thou any stories of beasts?" "Yes," answered +she, and began to tell the + + +TALE OF THE WOLF AND THE FOX.[FN#150] + +Know, O King, that a fox and a wolf once cohabited in the same den, +harbouring therein together by day and resorting thither by night; but +the wolf was cruel and oppressive to the fox. They abode thus awhile, +till it so befel that the fox exhorted the wolf to use gentle dealing +and leave off his ill deeds, saying, "If thou persist in thine +arrogance, belike Allah will give the son of Adam power over thee, for +he is past master in guile and wile; and by his artifice he bringeth +down the birds from the firmament and he haleth the mighty fish forth +of the flood-waters: and he cutteth the mountain and transporteth it +from place to place. All this is of his craft and wiliness: wherefore +do thou betake thyself to equity and fair dealing and leave frowardness +and tyranny; and thou shalt fare all the better for it." But the wolf +would not accept his counsel and answered him roughly, saying, "What +right hast thou to speak of matters of weight and importance?" And he +dealt the fox a cuff that laid him senseless; but, when he revived, he +smiled in the wolf's face and, excusing himself for his unseemly +speech, repeated these two couplets, + +"If any sin I sinned, or did I aught * + In love of you, which hateful mischief wrought; +My sin I sore repent and pardon sue; * + So give the sinner gift of pardon sought." + +The wolf accepted his excuse and held his hand from further +ill-treatment, saying, "Speak not of whatso concerneth thee not, lest +thou hear what will please thee not." Answered the fox, "To hear is to +obey!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the wolf to +the fox, "Speak not of whatso concerneth thee not, lest thou hear what +will please thee not!" Answered the fox, "To hear is to obey! I will +abstain henceforth from what pleaseth thee not; for the sage saith, +'Have a care that thou speak not of that whereof thou art not asked; +leave that which concerneth thee not for that which concerneth thee, +and by no means lavish good counsel on the wrongous, for they will +repay it to thee with wrong.'" And reflecting on the words of the wolf +he smiled in his face, but in his heart he meditated treachery against +him and privily said, "There is no help but that I compass the +destruction of this wolf." So he bore with his injurious usage, saying +to himself, "Verily insolence and evil-speaking are causes of perdition +and cast into confusion, and it is said, 'The insolent is shent and the +ignorant doth repent; and whose feareth, to him safety is sent': +moderation marketh the noble and gentle manners are of gains the +grandest. It behoveth me to dissemble with this tyrant and needs must +he be cast down." Then quoth he to the wolf, "Verily, the Lord +pardoneth his erring servant and relenteth towards him, if he confess +his offences; and I am a weak slave and have offended in presuming to +counsel thee. If thou knewest the pain that befel me by thy buffet, +thou wouldst ken that even the elephant could not stand against it nor +endure it: but I complain not of this blow's hurt, because of the joy +and gladness that hath betided me through it; for though it was to me +exceeding sore yet was its issue of the happiest. And with sooth saith +the sage, 'The blow of the teacher is at first right hurtful, but the +end of it is sweeter than strained honey.'" Quoth the wolf, "I pardon +thine offence and I cancel thy fault; but beware of my force and avow +thyself my thrall; for thou hast learned my severity unto him who +showeth his hostility!" Thereupon the fox prostrated himself before the +wolf, saying, "Allah lengthen thy life and mayst thou never cease to +overthrow thy foes!" And he stinted not to fear the wolf and to wheedle +him and dissemble with him. Now it came to pass that one day, the fox +went to a vineyard and saw a breach in its walls; but he mistrusted it +and said to himself, "Verily, for this breach there must be some cause +and the old saw saith, 'Whoso seeth a cleft in the earth and shunneth +it not and is not wary in approaching it, the same is self-deluded and +exposeth himself to danger and destruction.' Indeed, it is well known +that some folk make the figure of a fox in their vineyards; nay, they +even set before the semblance grapes in plates, that foxes may see it +and come to it and fall into perdition. In very sooth I regard this +breach as a snare and the proverb saith, 'Caution is one half of +cleverness.' Now prudence requireth that I examine this breach and see +if there be aught therein which may lead to perdition; and coveting +shall not make me cast myself into destruction." So he went up to the +hole and walked round it right warily, and lo! it was a deep pit, which +the owner of the vineyard had dug to trap therein the wild beasts which +laid waste his vines. Then he said to himself, "Thou hast gained, for +that thou hast refrained!"; and he looked and saw that the hole was +lightly covered with dust and matting. So he drew back from it saying, +"Praised be Allah that I was wary of it! I hope that my enemy, the +wolf, who maketh my life miserable, will fall into it; so will the +vineyard be left to me and I shall enjoy it alone and dwell therein at +peace." Saying thus, he shook his head and laughed a loud laugh and +began versifying, + + "Would Heaven I saw at this hour * + The Wolf fallen down in this well, + He who anguisht my heart for so long, * + And garred me drain eisel and fel! + Heaven grant after this I may live * + Free of Wolf for long fortunate spell + When I've rid grapes and vineyard of him, * + And in bunch-spoiling happily dwell." + +His verse being finished he returned in haste to the wolf and said to +him, "Allah hath made plain for thee the way into the vineyard without +toil and moil. This is of thine auspicious fortune; so good luck to +thee and mayest thou enjoy the plentiful plunder and the profuse +provaunt which Allah hath opened up to thee without trouble!" Asked the +wolf, "What proof hast thou of what thou assertest?": and the fox +answered, "I went up to the vineyard and found that the owner was dead, +having been torn to pieces by wolves: so I entered the orchard and saw +the fruit shining upon the trees." The wolf doubted not the fox's +report and his gluttony gat hold of him; so he arose and repaired to +the cleft, for that greed blinded him; whilst the fox falling behind +him lay as one dead, quoting to the case the following couplet, + +"For Layla's[FN#151] favour dost thou greed? But, bear in mind * + Greed is a yoke of harmful weight on neck of man." + +And when the wolf had reached the breach the fox said, "Enter the +vineyard: thou art spared the trouble of climbing a ladder, for the +garden-wall is broken down, and with Allah it resteth to fulfil the +benefit." So the wolf went on walking and thought to enter the +vineyard; but when he came to the middle of the pit-covering he fell +through; whereupon the fox shook for joy and gladness; his care and +concern left him and he sang out for delight and improvised these +couplets, + + "Fortune had mercy on the soul of me, * + And for my torments now shows clemency, + Granting whatever gift my heart desired, * + And far removing what I feared to see: + I will, good sooth, excuse her all her sins * + She sinned in days gone by and much sinned she: + Yea, her injustice she hath shown in this, * + She whitened locks that were so black of blee: + But now for this same wolf escape there's none, * + Of death and doom he hath full certainty. + Then all the vineyard comes beneath my rule, * + I'll brook no partner who's so fond a fool." + +Then the fox looked into the cleft and, seeing the wolf weeping in +repentance and sorrow for himself, wept with him; whereupon the wolf +raised his head to him and asked, "Is it of pity for me thou weepest, O +Father of the Fortlet[FN#152]?" Answered the fox, "No, by Him who cast +thee into this pit! I weep for the length of thy past life and for +regret that thou didst not fall into the pit before this day; for hadst +thou done so before I foregathered with thee, I had rested and enjoyed +repose: but thou wast spared till the fulfilment of thine allotted term +and thy destined time." Then the wolf said to him as one jesting, "O +evil-doer, go to my mother and tell her what hath befallen me; haply +she may devise some device for my release." Replied the fox, "Of a +truth thou hast been brought to destruction by the excess of thy greed +and thine exceeding gluttony, since thou art fallen into a pit whence +thou wilt never escape. Knowest thou not the common proverb, O thou +witless wolf, 'Whoso taketh no thought as to how things end, him shall +Fate never befriend nor shall he safe from perils wend." "O Reynard," +quoth the wolf, "thou was wont to show me fondness and covet my +friendliness and fear the greatness of my strength. Hate me not +rancorously because of that I did with thee; for he who hath power and +forgiveth, his reward Allah giveth; even as saith the poet, + + 'Sow kindness-seed in the unfittest stead; * + 'Twill not be wasted whereso thou shalt sow: + For kindness albe buried long, yet none * + Shall reap the crop save sower who garred it grow.'" + +Rejoined the fox, "O witlessest of beasts of prey and stupidest of the +wild brutes which the wolds overstray! Hast thou forgotten thine +arrogance and insolence and tyranny, and thy disregarding the due of +goodfellowship and thy refusing to be advised by what the poet saith? + + 'Wrong not thy neighbour e'en if thou have power; * + The wronger alway vengeance-harvest reaps: + Thine eyes shall sleep, while bides the wronged on wake * + A-cursing thee; and Allah's eye ne'er sleeps.'" + +"O Abu 'l-Hosayn," replied the wolf, "twit me not with my past sins; +for forgiveness is expected of the generous and doing kind deeds is the +truest of treasures. How well saith the poet, + + 'Haste to do kindness while thou hast much power, * + For at all seasons thou hast not such power.'" + +And he ceased not to humble himself before the fox and say, "Haply, +thou canst do somewhat to deliver me from destruction." Replied the +fox, "O thou wolf, thou witless, deluded, deceitful trickster! hope not +for deliverance, for this is but the just reward of thy foul dealing +and its due retaliation." Then he laughed with chops wide open and +repeated these two couplets, + + "No longer beguile me, * + Thou'lt fail of thy will! + What can't be thou seekest; * + Thou hast sown so reap Ill!" + +Quoth the wolf, "O gentlest of ravenous beasts, I fain hold thee too +faithful to leave me in this pit." Then he wept and complained and, +with tears streaming from his eyes, recited these two couplets, + + "O thou whose favours have been out of compt, * + Whose gifts are more than may be numbered! + Never mischance befel me yet from time * + But that I found thy hand right fain to aid." + +"O thou ninny foe," quoth the fox, "how art thou reduced to humiliation +and prostration and abjection and submission, after insolence and pride +and tyranny and arrogance! Verily, I kept company with thee only for +fear of thy fury and I cajoled thee without one hope of fair treatment +from thee: but now trembling is come upon thee and vengeance hath +overtaken thee." And he repeated these two couplets, + + "O thou who seekest innocence to 'guile, * + Thou'rt caught in trap of thine intentions vile: + Now drain the draught of shamefullest mischance, * + And be with other wolves cut off, thou scroyle!" + +Replied the wolf, "O thou clement one, speak not with the tongue of +enemies nor look with their eyes; but fulfil the covenant of fellowship +with me, ere the time of applying remedy cease to be. Rise and make +ready to get me a rope and tie one end of it to a tree; then let the +other down to me, that I may lay hold of it, so haply I shall from this +my strait win free, and I will give thee all my hand possesseth of +wealth and fee." Quoth the fox, "Thou persistest in conversation +concerning what will not procure thy liberation. Hope not for this, for +thou shalt never, never get of me wherewithal to set thee at liberty; +but call to mind thy past misdeeds and the craft and perfidy thou didst +imagine against me and bethink thee how near thou art to being stoned +to death. For know that thy soul is about the world to quit and cease +in it and depart from it; so shalt thou to destruction hie and ill is +the abiding-place thou shalt aby!"[FN#153] Rejoined the wolf, "O Father +of the Fortlet, hasten to return to amity and persist not in this +rancorous enmity. Know that whoso from ruin saveth a soul, is as if he +had quickened it and made it whole; and whoso saveth a soul alive, is +as if he had saved all mankind.[FN#154] Follow not frowardness, for the +wise forbid it: and it were most manifest frowardness to leave me in +this pit draining the agony of death and dight to look upon mine own +doom, whenas it lieth in thy power to deliver me from my stowre. So do +thy best to release me and deal with me benevolently." Answered the +fox, "O thou base and barbarous wretch, I compare thee, because of the +fairness of thy professions and expressions, and the foulness of thy +intentions and thy inventions to the Falcon and the Partridge." Asked +the wolf, "How so?"; and the fox began to tell + + +The Tale of the Falcon[FN#155] and the Partridge.[FN#156] + +Once upon a time I entered a vineyard to eat of its grapes; and, whilst +so doing behold, I saw a falcon stoop upon a partridge and seize him; +but the partridge escaped from the seizer and, entering his nest, hid +himself there. The falcon followed apace and called out to him, saying, +"O imbecile, I saw thee an-hungered in the wold and took pity on thee; +so I picked up for thee some grain and took hold of thee that thou +mightest eat; but thou fleddest from me; and I wot not the cause of thy +flight, except it were to put upon me a slight. Come out, then, and +take the grain I have brought thee to eat and much good may it do thee, +and with thy health agree." When the partridge heard these words, he +believed and came out to him, whereupon the falcon struck his talons +into him and seized him. Cried the partridge, "Is this that which thou +toldest me thou hadst brought me from the wold, and whereof thou badest +me eat, saying, 'Much good may it do thee, and with thy health agree?' +Thou hast lied to me, and may Allah cause what thou eatest of my flesh +to be a killing poison in thy maw!" So when the falcon had eaten the +partridge, his feathers fell off and his strength failed and he died on +the spot. "Know, then, O wolf!" (pursued the fox), "that he who diggeth +for his brother a pit himself soon falleth into it, and thou first +deceivedst me in mode unfit." Quoth the wolf, "Spare me this discourse +nor saws and tales enforce, and remind me not of my former ill course, +for sufficeth me the sorry plight I endure perforce, seeing that I am +fallen into a place, in which even my foe would pity me, much more a +true friend. Rather find some trick to deliver me and be thou thereby +my saviour. If this cause thee trouble, remember that a true friend +will undertake the sorest travail for his true friend's sake and will +risk his life to deliver him from evil; and indeed it hath been said, +'A leal friend is better than a real brother.' So if thou stir thyself +to save me and I be saved, I will forsure gather thee such store as +shall be a provision for thee against want however sore; and truly I +will teach thee rare tricks whereby to open whatso bounteous vineyards +thou please and strip the fruit-laden trees." Rejoined the fox, +laughing, "How excellent is what the learned say of him who aboundeth +in ignorance like unto thee!" Asked the wolf, "What do the wise men +say?" And the fox answered, "They have observed that the gross of body +are gross of mind, far from intelligence and nigh unto ignorance. As +for thy saying, O thou stupid, cunning idiot! that a true friend should +undertake sore travail for his true friend's sake, it is sooth as thou +sayest, but tell me, of thine ignorance and poverty of intelligence, +how can I be a true friend to thee, considering thy treachery. Dost +thou count me thy true friend? Nay, I am thy foe who joyeth in thy woe; +and couldst thou trow it, this word were sorer to thee than slaughter +by shot of shaft. As for thy promise to provide me a store against want +however sore and teach me tricks, to plunder whatso bounteous vineyards +I please, and spoil fruit-laden trees, how cometh it, O guileful +traitor, that thou knowest not a wile to save thyself from destruction? +How far art thou from profiting thyself and how far am I from accepting +thy counsel! If thou have any tricks, make shift for thyself to save +thee from the risk, wherefrom I pray Allah to make thine escape far +distant! So look, O fool, if there be any trick with thee; and +therewith save thyself from death ere thou lavish instruction upon thy +neighbours. But thou art like a certain man attacked by a disease, who +went to another diseased with the same disease, and said to him, 'Shall +I heal thee of thy disease?' Replied the sick man, 'Why dost thou not +begin by healing thyself?' So he left him and went his way. And thou, O +ignorant wolf, art like this; so stay where thou art and under what +hath befallen thee be of good heart!" When the wolf heard what the fox +said, he knew that from him he had no hope of favour; so he wept for +himself, saying, "Verily, I have been heedless of my weal; but if Allah +deliver me from this ill I will assuredly repent of my arrogance +towards those who are weaker than I, and will wear woollens[FN#157] and +go upon the mountains, celebrating the praises of Almighty Allah and +fearing His punishment. And I will withdraw from the company of other +wild beasts and forsure will I feed the poor fighters for the Faith." +Then he wept and wailed, till the heart of the fox softened when he +heard his humble words and his professions of penitence for his past +insolence and arrogance. So he took pity upon him and sprang up +joyfully and, going to the brink of the breach, squatted down on his +hind quarters and let his tail hang in the hole; whereupon the wolf +arose and putting out his paw, pulled the fox's tail, so that he fell +down in the pit with him. Then said the wolf, "O fox of little mercy, +why didst thou exult in my misery, thou that wast my companion and +under my dominion? Now thou art fallen into the pit with me and +retribution hath soon overtaken thee. Verily, the sages have said, 'If +one of you reproach his brother with sucking the dugs of a bitch, he +also shall suck her.' And how well quoth the poet, + + 'When Fortune weighs heavy on some of us, * + And makes camel kneel by some other one,[FN#158] + Say to those who rejoice in our ills: —Awake! * + The rejoicer shall suffer as we have done!' + +And death in company is the best of things;[FN#159] wherefore I will +certainly and assuredly hasten to slay thee ere thou see me slain." +Said the fox to himself, "Ah! Ah! I am fallen into the snare with this +tyrant, and my case calleth for the use of craft and cunning; for +indeed it is said that a woman fashioneth her jewellery for the day of +display, and quoth the proverb, 'I have not kept thee, O my tear, save +for the time when distress draweth near.' And unless I make haste to +circumvent this prepotent beast I am lost without recourse; and how +well saith the poet, + + 'Make thy game by guile, for thou'rt born in a Time * + Whose sons are lions in forest lain; + And turn on the leat[FN#160] of thy knavery * + That the mill of subsistence may grind thy grain; + And pluck the fruits or, if out of reach, * + Why, cram thy maw with the grass on plain.'" + +Then said the fox to the wolf, "Hasten not to slay me, for that is not +the way to pay me and thou wouldst repent it, O thou valiant wild +beast, lord of force and exceeding prowess! An thou accord delay and +consider what I shall say, thou wilt ken what purpose I proposed; but +if thou hasten to kill me it will profit thee naught and we shall both +die in this very place." Answered the wolf "O thou wily trickster, what +garreth thee hope to work my deliverance and thine own, that thou +prayest me to grant thee delay? Speak and propound to me thy purpose." +Replied the fox, "As for the purpose I proposed, it was one which +deserveth that thou guerdon me handsomely for it; for when I heard thy +promises and thy confessions of thy past misdeeds and regrets for not +having earlier repented and done good; and when I heard thee vowing, +shouldst thou escape from this strait, to leave harming thy fellows and +others; forswear the eating of grapes and of all manner fruits; devote +thyself to humility; cut thy claws and break thy dog-teeth; don +woollens and offer thyself as an offering to Almighty Allah, then +indeed I had pity upon thee, for true words are the best words. And +although before I had been anxious for thy destruction, whenas I heard +thy repenting and thy vows of amending should Allah vouchsafe to save +thee, I felt bound to free thee from this thy present plight. So I let +down my tail, that thou mightest grasp it and be saved. Yet wouldest +thou not quit thy wonted violence and habit of brutality; nor soughtest +thou to save thyself by fair means, but thou gavest me a tug which I +thought would sever body from soul, so that thou and I are fallen into +the same place of distress and death. And now there is but one thing +can save us and, if thou accept it of me, we shall both escape; and +after it behoveth thee to fulfil the vows thou hast made and I will be +thy veritable friend." Asked the wolf, "What is it thou proposest for +mine acceptance?" Answered the fox, "It is that thou stand up at full +height till I come nigh on a level with the surface of the earth. Then +will I give a spring and reach the ground; and, when out of the pit, I +will bring thee what thou mayst lay hold of, and thus shalt thou make +thine escape." Rejoined the wolf, "I have no faith in thy word, for +sages have said, 'Whoso practiseth trust in the place of hate, erreth;' +and, 'Whoso trusteth in the untrustworthy is a dupe; he who re-trieth +him who hath been tried shall reap repentance and his days shall go +waste; and he who cannot distinguish between case and case, giving each +its due, and assigneth all the weight to one side, his luck shall be +little and his miseries shall be many.' How well saith the poet, + + 'Let thy thought be ill and none else but ill; * + For suspicion is best of the worldling's skill: + Naught casteth a man into parlous place * + But good opinion and (worse) good-will!' + +And the saying of another, + + 'Be sure all are villains and so bide safe; * + Who lives wide awake on few Ills shall light: + Meet thy foe with smiles and a smooth fair brow, * + And in heart raise a host for the battle dight!' + +And that of yet another,[FN#161] + + 'He thou trusted most is thy worst unfriend; * + 'Ware all and take heed with whom thou wend: + Fair opinion of Fortune is feeble sign; * + So believe her ill and her Ills perpend!'" + +Quoth the fox, "Verily mistrust and ill opinion of others are not to be +commended in every case; nay trust and confidence are the +characteristics of a noble nature and the issue thereof is freedom from +stress of fear. Now it behoveth thee, O thou wolf, to devise some +device for thy deliverance from this thou art in, and our escape will +be better to us both than our death: so quit thy distrust and rancour; +for if thou trust in me one of two things will happen; either I shall +bring thee something whereof to lay hold and escape from this case, or +I shall abandon thee to thy doom. But this thing may not be, for I am +not safe from falling into some such strait as this thou art in, which, +indeed, would be fitting punishment of perfidy. Of a truth the adage +saith, 'Faith is fair and faithlessness is foul.'[FN#162] So it +behoveth thee to trust in me, for I am not ignorant of the haps and +mishaps of the world; and delay not to contrive some device for our +deliverance, as the case is too close to allow further talk." Replied +the wolf, "For all my want of confidence in thy fidelity, verily I knew +what was in thy mind and that thou wast moved to deliver me whenas thou +heardest my repentance, and I said to myself, 'If what he asserteth be +true, he will have repaired the ill he did; and if false, it resteth +with the Lord to requite him.' So, look'ee, I have accepted thy +proposal and, if thou betray me, may thy traitorous deed be the cause +of thy destruction!" Then the wolf stood bolt upright in the pit and, +taking the fox upon his shoulders, raised him to the level of the +ground, whereupon Reynard gave a spring from his back and lighted on +the surface of the earth. When he found himself safely out of the cleft +he fell down senseless and the wolf said to him, "O my friend! neglect +not my case and delay not to deliver me." The fox laughed with a loud +haw-haw and replied, "O dupe, naught threw me into thy hands save my +laughing at thee and making mock of thee; for in good sooth when I +heard thee profess repentance, mirth and gladness seized me and I +frisked about and made merry and danced, so that my tail hung low into +the pit and thou caughtest hold of it and draggedst me down with thee. +And the end was that Allah Almighty delivered me from thy power. Then +why should I be other than a helper in thy destruction, seeing that +thou art of Satan's host? I dreamt yesterday that I danced at thy +wedding and I told my dream to an interpreter who said to me, 'Verily +thou shalt fall into imminent deadly danger and thou shalt escape +therefrom.' So now I know that my falling into thy hand and my escape +are the fulfillment of my dream, and thou, O imbecile, knowest me for +thy foe; so how couldest thou, of thine ignorance and unintelligence, +nurse desire of deliverance at my hands, after all thou hast heard of +harsh words from me; and wherefore should I attempt thy salvation +whenas the sages have said, 'In the death of the wicked is rest for +mankind and a purge for the earth'? But, were it not that I fear to +bear more affliction by keeping faith with thee than the sufferings +which follow perfidy, I had done mine endeavour to save thee." When the +wolf heard this, he bit his forehand for repentance. —And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fiftieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the wolf +heard the fox's words he bit his forehand for repentance. Then he gave +the fox fair words, but this availed naught and he was at his wits' end +for what to do; so he said to him in soft, low accents, "Verily, you +tribe of foxes are the most pleasant people in point of tongue and the +subtlest in jest, and this is but a joke of thine; but all times are +not good for funning and jesting." The fox replied, "O ignoramus, in +good sooth jesting hath a limit which the jester must not overpass; and +deem not that Allah will again give thee possession of me after having +once delivered me from thy hand." Quoth the wolf, "It behoveth thee to +compass my release, by reason of our brotherhood and good fellowship; +and, if thou release me, I will assuredly make fair thy recompense." +Quoth the fox, "Wise men say, 'Take not to brother the wicked fool, for +he will disgrace thee in lieu of gracing thee; nor take to brother the +liar for, if thou do good, he will conceal it; and if thou do ill he +will reveal it.' And again, the sages have said, 'There is help for +everything but death: all may be warded off, except Fate.' As for the +reward thou declarest to be my due from thee, I compare thee herein +with the serpent which fled from the charmer.[FN#163] A man saw her +affrighted and said to her, 'What aileth thee, O thou serpent?' Replied +she, 'I am fleeing from the snake-charmer, for he seeketh to trap me +and, if thou wilt save me and hide me with thee, I will make fair thy +reward and do thee all manner of kindness.' So he took her, incited +thereto by lust for the recompense and eager to find favour with +Heaven, and set her in his breastpocket. Now when the charmer had +passed and had wended his way and the serpent had no longer any cause +to fear, he said to her, 'Where is the reward thou didst promise me? +Behold, I have saved thee from that thou fearedest and soughtest to +fly.' Replied she, 'Tell me in what limb or in what place shall I +strike thee with my fangs, for thou knowest we exceed not that +recompense.' So saying, she gave him a bite whereof he died. And I +liken thee, O dullard, to the serpent in her dealings with that man. +Hast thou not heard what the poet saith? + + 'Trust not to man when thou hast raised his spleen * + And wrath, nor that 'twill cool do thou misween: + Smooth feels the viper to the touch and glides * + With grace, yet hides she deadliest venene.'" + +Quoth the wolf, "O thou glib of gab and fair of face, ignore not my +case and men's fear of me; and well thou weetest how I assault the +strongly walled place and uproot the vines from base. Wherefore, do as +I bid thee, and stand before me even as the thrall standeth before his +lord." Quoth the fox, "O stupid dullard who seekest a vain thing, I +marvel at thy folly and thy front of brass in that thou biddest me +serve thee and stand up before thee as I were a slave bought with thy +silver; but soon shalt thou see what is in store for thee, in the way +of cracking thy sconce with stones and knocking out thy traitorous +dog-teeth." So saying the fox clomb a hill overlooking the vineyard and +standing there, shouted out to the vintagers; nor did he give over +shouting till he woke them and they, seeing him, all came up to him in +haste. He stood his ground till they drew near him and close to the pit +wherein was the wolf; and then he turned and fled. So the folk looked +into the cleft and, spying the wolf, set to pelting him with heavy +stones, and they stinted not smiting him with stones and sticks, and +stabbing him with spears, till they killed him and went away. Thereupon +the fox returned to that cleft and, standing over the spot where his +foe had been slain, saw the wolf dead: so he wagged his head for very +joyance and began to recite these couplets, + + "Fate the Wolf's soul snatched up from wordly stead; * + Far be from bliss his soul that perished! + Abu Sirhan![FN#164] how sore thou sought'st my death; * + Thou, burnt this day in fire of sorrow dread: + Thou'rt fallen into pit, where all who fall * + Are blown by Death-blast down among the dead." + +Thenceforward the aforesaid fox abode alone in the vineyard unto the +hour of his death secure and fearing no hurt. And such are the +adventures of the wolf and the fox. But men also tell a + + +TALE OF THE MOUSE AND THE ICHNEUMON[FN#165] + +A mouse and an ichneumon once dwelt in the house of a peasant who was +very poor; and when one of his friends sickened, the doctor prescribed +him husked sesame. So the hind sought of one of his comrades sesame to +be husked by way of healing the sick man; and, when a measure thereof +was given to him, he carried it home to his wife and bade her dress it. + So she steeped it and husked it and spread it out to dry. Now when +the ichneumon saw the grain, she went up to it and fell to carrying it +away to her hole, and she toiled all day, till she had borne off the +most of it. Presently, in came the peasant's wife and, seeing much of +the grain gone, stood awhile wondering; after which she sat down to +watch and find out who might be the intruder and make him account for +her loss. After a while, out crept the ichneumon to carry off the +grain as was her wont, but spying the woman seated there, knew that she +was on the watch for her and said in her mind, "Verily, this affair is +like to end blameably; and sore I fear me this woman is on the look-out +for me, and Fortune is no friend to who attend not to issue and end: so +there is no help for it but that I do a fair deed, whereby I may +manifest my innocence and wash out all the ill-doings I have done." So +saying, she began to take the sesame out of her hole and carry it forth +and lay it back upon the rest. The woman stood by and, seeing the +ichneumon do thus, said to herself, "Verily this is not the cause of +our loss, for she bringeth it back from the hole of him who stole it +and returneth it to its place; and of a truth she hath done us a +kindness in restoring us the sesame, and the reward of those who do us +good is that we do them the like good. It is clear that it is not she +who stole the grain; but I will not cease my watching till he fall into +my hands and I find out who is the thief." The ichneumon guess what +was in her mind, so she went to the mouse and said to her, "O my +sister, there is no good in one who observeth not the claims of +neighborship and who showeth no constancy in friendship." The mouse +replied, "Even so, O my friend, and I delight in thee and in they +neighborhood; but what be the motive of this speech?" Quoth the +ichneumon, "The house- master hath brought home sesame and hath eaten +his fill of it, he and his family, and hath left much; every living +being hath eaten of it and, if thou take of it in they turn, thou art +worthier thereof than any other." This pleased the mouse and she +squeaked for joy and danced and frisked her ears and tail, and greed +for the grain deluded her; so she rose at once and issuing forth of her +home, saw the sesame husked and dry, shining with whiteness, and the +woman sitting at watch and ward. The mouse, taking no thought to the +issue of the affair (for the woman had armed herself with a cudgel), +and unable to contain herself, ran up to the sesame and began turning +it over and eating of it; whereupon the woman smote her with that club +and cleft her head: so the cause of her destruction were her greed and +heedlessness of consequences. Then said the Sultan, "O Shahrazad, by +Allah! this be a goodly parable! Say me, hast thou any story bearing +on the beauty of true friendship and the observance of its duty in time +of distress and rescuing from destruction?" Answered she:—Yes, it hath +reached me that they tell a tale of + + +THE CAT[FN#166] AND THE CROW + +Once upon a time, a crow and a cat lived in brotherhood; and one day as +they were together under a tree, behold, they spied a leopard making +towards them, and they were not aware of his approach till he was close +upon them. The crow at once flew up to the tree-top; but the cat abode +confounded and said to the crow, "O my friend, hast thou no device to +save me, even as all my hope is in thee?" Replied the crow, "Of very +truth it behoveth brethren, in case of need, to cast about for a device +when peril overtaketh them, and how well saith the poet, + + A friend in need is he who, ever true, * + For they well-doing would himself undo: + One who when Fortune gars us parting rue * + Victimeth self reunion to renew.'" + +Now hard by that tree were shepherds with their dogs; so the crow flew +towards them and smote the face of the earth with his wings, cawing and +crying out. Furthermore he went up to one of the dogs and flapped his +wings in his face and flew up a little way, whilst the dog ran after +him thinking to catch him. Presently, one of the shepherds raised his +head and saw the bird flying near the ground and lighting alternately; +so he followed him, and the crow ceased not flying just high enough to +save himself and to throw out the dogs; and yet tempting them to follow +for the purpose of tearing him to pieces. But as soon as they came +near him, he would fly up a little; and so at last he brought them to +the tree, under which was the leopard. And when the dogs saw him they +rushed upon him and he turned and fled. Now the leopard thought to eat +the cat who was saved by the craft of his friend the crow. This story, +O King, showeth that the friendship of the Brothers of Purity[FN#167] +delivereth and saveth from difficulties and from falling into mortal +dangers. And they also tell a tale of + + +THE FOX AND THE CROW + +A Fox once dwelt in a cave of a certain mountain and, as often as a cub +was born to him and grew stout, he would eat the young one, for he had +died of hunger, had he instead of so doing left the cub alive and bred +it by his side and preserved and cherished his issue. Yet was this +very grievous to him. Now on the crest of the same mountain a crow had +made his nest, and the fox said to himself, "I have a mind to set up a +friendship with this crow and make a comrade of him, that he may help +me to my daily bread; for he can do in such matters what I cannot." So +he drew near the crow's home and, when he came within sound of speech, +he saluted him and said, "O my neighbour, verily a true-believer hath +two claims upon his true-believing neighbour, the right of +neighbourliness and the right of Al-Islam, our common faith; and know, +O my friend, that thou art my neighbour and thou hast a claim upon me +which it behoveth me to observe, the more that I have long been thy +neighbour. Also, there be implanted in my breast a store of love to +thee, which biddeth me speak thee fair and obligeth me to solicit thy +brothership. What sayest thou in reply?" Answered the crow, "Verily, +the truest speech is the best speech; and haply thou speakest with thy +tongue that which is not in thy heart; so I fear lest thy brotherhood +be only of the tongue, outward, and thy enmity be in the heart, inward; +for that thou art the Eater and I the Eaten, and faring apart were +apter to us than friendship and fellowship. What, then, maketh thee +seek that which thou mayst not gain and desire what may not be done, +seeing that I be of the bird-kind and thou be of the beast-kind? +Verily, this thy proffered brotherhood[FN#168] may not be made, neither +were it seemly to make it." Rejoined the fox, "Of a truth whoso knoweth +the abiding-place of excellent things, maketh better choice in what he +chooseth therefrom, so perchance he may advantage his brethren; and +indeed I should love to wone near thee and I have sued for thine +intimacy, to the end that we may help each other to our several +objects; and success shall surely wait upon our amity. I have a many +tales of the goodliness of true friendship, which I will relate to thee +if thou wish the relating." Answered the crow, "Thou hast my leave to +let me hear thy communication; so tell thy tale, and relate it to me +that I may hearken to it and weigh it and judge of thine intent +thereby." Rejoined the fox, "Hear then, O my friend, that which is +told of a flea and a mouse and which beareth out what I have said to +thee." Asked the crow, "How so?" and the fox answered:—They tell this +tale of + + +The Flea and the Mouse + +Once upon a time a mouse dwelt in the house of a merchant who owned +much merchandise and great stories of monies. One night, a flea took +shelter in the merchant's carpet-bed and, finding his body soft, and +being thirsty drank of his blood. The merchant was awakened by the +smart of the bite and sitting up called to his slave-girls and serving +men. So they hastened to him and, tucking up their sleeves, fell to +searching for the flea; but as soon as the bloodsucker was aware of the +search, he turned to flee and coming on the mouse's home, entered it. +When the mouse saw him, she said to him, "What bringeth thee in to me, +thou who art not of my nature nor of my kind, and who canst not be +assured of safety from violence or of not being expelled with roughness +and ill usage?" Answered the flea, "Of a truth, I took refuge in thy +dwelling to save me from slaughter; and I have come to thee seeking thy +protection and on nowise coveting thy house; nor shall any mischief +betide thee from me to make thee leave thy home. Nay I hope right soon +to repay thy favours to me with all good and then shalt thou see and +praise the issue of my words." And when the mouse heard the speech of +the flea, - And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifty-first Night + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the mouse +heard the words of the flea, she said, "If the case be as thou dost +relate and describe, then be at thine ease here; for naught shall befal +thee save the rain of peace and safety; nor shall aught betide thee but +what shall joy thee and shall not annoy thee, nor shall it annoy me. I +will lavish on thee my affections without stint; and do not thou regret +having lost the merchant's blood nor lament for thy subsistence from +him, but be content with what sustenance thou canst obtain; for indeed +that is the safer for thee. And I have heard, O flea, that one of the +gnomic poets saith as follows in these couplets, + +I have fared content in my solitude * + With wate'er befel, and led life of ease, +On a water-draught and a bite of bread, * + Coarse salt and a gown of tattered frieze: +Allah might, an He pleased, give me easiest life, * + But with whatso pleaseth Him self I please.'" + +Now when the flea heard these words of the mouse, he rejoined, "I +hearken to thy charge and I submit myself to obey thee, nor have I +power to gainsay thee, till life be fulfilled in this righteous +intention." Replied the mouse, "Pure intention sufficeth to sincere +affection." So the tie of love arose and was knitted between them +twain, and after this, the flea used to visit the merchant's bed by +night and not exceed in his diet, and house him by day in the hole of +the mouse. Now it came to pass one night, the merchant brought home +great store of dinars and began to turn them over. When the mouse +heard the chink of the coin, she put her head out of her hole and fell +to gazing at it, till the merchant laid it under his pillow and went to +sleep, when she said to the flea, "Seest thou not the proffered +occasion and the great good fortune? Hast thou any device to bring us +to our desire of yonder dinars? Quoth the flea, "Verily, it is not +good that one strives for aught, unless he be able to win his will; +because, if he lack ability thereto, he falleth into that which he +should avoid and he attaineth not his wish by reason of his weakness, +albeit he use all power of cunning, like the sparrow which picketh up +grain and falleth into the net and is caught by the fowler. Thou hast +no strength to take the dinars and to transport them out of this house, +nor have I force sufficient to do this; I the contrary, I could not +carry a single ducat of them; so what hast thou to do with them?" +Quoth the mouse, "I have made me for my house these seventy openings, +whence I may go out at my desire, and I have set apart a place strong +and safe, for things of price; and if thou can contrive to get the +merchant out of the house, I doubt not of success, an so be that Fate +aid me." Answered the flea, "I will engage to get him out of the house +for thee;" and, going to the merchant's bed, bit him a fearful bite, +such as he had never before felt, then fled to a place of safety, where +he had no fear of the man. So the merchant awoke and sought for the +flea, but finding him not, lay down again on his other side. Then the +flea bit him a second time more painfully than before. So he lost +patience and, leaving his bed, went out and lay down on the bench +before his door and slept there and woke not till the morning. +Meanwhile the mouse came out and fell to carrying the dinars into her +hole, till she left not a single one; and when day dawned the merchant +began to suspect the folk and fancy all manner of fancies. And +(continued the fox) know thou, O wise and experienced crow with the +clear-seeing eyes, that I tell thee this only to the intent that thou +mayst reap the recompense of thy kindness to me, even as the mouse +reaped the reward of her kindness to the flea; for see how he repaid +her and requited her with the goodliest of requitals. Said the crow, +"It lies with the benefactor to show benevolence or not to show it; nor +is it incumbent on us to entreat kindly one who seeketh a connection +that entaileth separation from kith and kin. If I show thee favour who +art my foe by kind, I am the cause of cutting myself off from the +world; and thou, O fox, art full of wiles and guiles. Now those whose +characteristics are craft and cunning, must not be trusted upon oath; +and whoso is not to be trusted upon oath, in him there is no good +faith. The tidings lately reached me of thy treacherous dealing with +one of thy comrades, which was a wolf; and how thou didst deceive him +until thou leddest him into destruction by thy perfidy and stratagems; +and this thou diddest after he was of thine own kind and thou hadst +long consorted with him: yet didst thou not spare him; and if thou +couldst deal thus with thy fellow which was of thine own kind, how can +I have trust in they truth and what would be thy dealing with thy foe +of other kind than thy kind? Nor can I compare thee and me but with the +saker and the birds." "How so?" asked the fox. Answered the crow, +they relate this tale of + + +The Saker[FN#169] and the Birds. + +There was once a saker who was a cruel tyrant"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifty-second Night + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the crow pursued, +"They relate that there was once a saker who was a cruel tyrant in the +days of his youth, so that the raveners of the air and the scavengers +of the earth feared him, none being safe from his mischief; and many +were the haps and mishaps of his tyranny and his violence, for this +saker was ever in the habit of oppressing and injuring all the other +birds. As the years passed over him, he grew feeble and his force +failed him, so that he was often famished; but his cunning waxed +stronger with the waning of his strength and redoubled in his endeavour +and determined to be present at the general assembly of the birds, that +he might eat of their orts and leavings; so in this manner he fed by +fraud instead of feeding by fierceness and force. And out, O fox, art +like this: if thy might fail thee, thy sleight faileth thee not; and I +doubt not that thy seeking my society is a fraud to get thy food; but I +am none of those who fall to thee and put fist into thy fist;[FN#170] +for that Allah hath vouchsafed force to my wings and caution to my mind +and sharp sight to my eyes; and I know that whoso apeth a stronger than +he, wearieth himself and haply cometh to ruin. Wherefore I fear for +thee lest, if thou ape a stronger than thyself, there befal thee what +befel the sparrow." Asked the fox, "What befel the sparrow?" Allah +upon thee, tell me his tale." And the crow began to relate the story +of + + +The Sparrow and the Eagle + +I have heard that a sparrow was once flitting over a sheep-fold, when +he looked at it carefully and behold, he saw a great eagle swoop down +upon a newly weaned lamb and carry it off in his claws and fly away. +Thereupon the sparrow clapped his wings and said, "I will do even as +this one did;" and he waxed proud in his own conceit and mimicked a +greater than he. So he flew down forthright and lighted on the back of +a fat ram with a thick fleece that was become matted by his lying in +his dung and stale till it was like woollen felt. As soon as the +sparrow pounced upon the sheep's back he flapped his wings to fly away, +but his feet became tangled in the wool and, however hard he tried, he +could not set himself free. While all this was doing the shepherd was +looking on, having seen what happened first with the eagle and +afterwards with the sparrow; so he came up to the wee birdie in a rage +and seized him. Then he plucked out his wing- feathers and, tying his +feet with a twine, carried him to his children and threw him to them. +"What is this?" asked one of them; and he answered, "This is he that +aped a greater than himself and came to grief." "Now thou, O fox, art +like this and I would have thee beware of aping a greater than thou, +lest thou perish. This is all I have to say to thee; so fare from me +in peace!" When the fox despaired of the crow's friendship, he turned +away, groaning for sorrow and gnashing teeth upon teeth in his +disappointment; and the crow, hearing the sound of weeping and seeing +his grief and profound melancholy, said to him, "O fox, what dole and +dolour make thee gnash thy canines?" Answered the fox, "I gnash my +canines because I find thee a greater rascal than myself;" and so +saying he made off to his house and ceased not to fare until he reached +his home. Quoth the Sultan, "O Shahrazad, how excellent are these thy +stories, and how delightsome! Hast thou more of such edifying tales?" +Answered she:—They tell this legend concerning + + +THE HEDGEHOG AND THE WOOD-PIGEONS + +A hedgehog once too up his abode by the side of a date-palm, whereon +roosted a wood-pigeon and his wife that had built their next there and +lived a life of ease and enjoyment. So he said to himself, "This +pigeon-pair eateth of the fruit of the date tree and I have no means of +getting at it; but needs must I find some fashion of tricking them. +Upon this he dug a hole at the foot of the palm tree and took up his +lodgings there, he and his wife; moreover, he built an oratory beside +the hole and went into retreat there and made a show of devotion and +edification and renunciation of the world. The male pigeon saw him +praying and worshipping, and his heart was softened towards him for his +excess of devoutness; so he said to him, "How many years hast thou been +thus?" Replied the hedgehog, "During the last thirty years." "What is +thy food?" "That which falleth from the palm- tree." "And what is thy +clothing?" "Prickles! and I profit by their roughness." "And why hast +thou chosen this for place rather than another?" "I chose it and +preferred it to all others that I might guide the erring into the right +way and teach the ignorant!" "I had fancied thy case," quoth the +wood-pigeon, "other than this, but now I yearn for that which is with +thee." Quoth the hedgehog, "I fear lest thy deed contradict thy word +and thou be even as the husbandman who, when the seed-season came, +neglected to sow, saying, Verily I dread lest the days bring me not to +my desire and by making hast to sow I shall only waste my substance!' +When harvest-time came and he saw the folk earing their crops, he +repented him of what he had lost by his tardiness and he died of +chagrin and vexation." Asked the wood-pigeon, "What then shall I do +that I may be freed from the bonds of the world and cut myself loose +from all things save the service of my Lord?" Answered the hedgehog, +"Betake thee to preparing for the next world and content thyself with a +pittance of provision." Quoth the pigeon, "How can I do this, I that am +a bird and unable to go beyond the date-tree whereon is my daily bread? + And even could I do so, I know of no other place wherein I may wone." +Quoth the hedgehog, "Thou canst shake down of the fruit of the +date-tree what shall suffice thee and thy wife for a year's provaunt; +then do ye take up your abode in a nest under the trunk, that ye may +prayerfully seek to be guided in the right way, and then turn thou to +what thou hast shaken down and transport it all to thy home and store +it up against what time the dates fail; and when the fruits are spent +and the delay is longsome upon you, address thyself to total +abstinence." Exclaimed the pigeon, "Allah requite thee with good for +the righteous intention wherewith thou hast reminded me of the world to +come and hast directed me into the right way!" Then he and his wife +worked hard at knocking down the dates, till nothing was left on the +palm-tree, whilst the hedgehog, finding whereof to eat, rejoiced and +filled his den with the fruit, storing it up for his subsistence and +saying in his mind, "When the pigeon and his wife have need of their +provision, they will seek it of me and covet what I have, relying upon +thy devoutness and abstinence; and, from what they have heard of my +counsels and admonitions, they will draw near unto me. Then will I make +them my prey and eat them, after which I shall have the place and all +that drops from the date-tree to suffice me." presently, having shaken +down the fruits, the pigeon and his wife descended from the tree-top +and finding that the hedgehog had removed all the dates to his own +place, said to him, "O hedgehog! thou pious preacher and of good +counsel, we can find no sign of the dates and know not on what else we +shall feed." Replied the hedgehog, "Probably the winds have carried +them away; but the turning from the provisions to the Provider is of +the essence of salvation, and He who the mouth-corners cleft, the mouth +without victual hath never left." And he gave not over improving the +occasion to them on this wise, and making a show of piety and cozening +them with fine words and false until they put faith in him and accepted +him and entered his den and had no suspicion of his deceit. Thereupon +he sprang to the door and gnashed his teeth, and the wood-pigeon, +seeing his perfidy manifested, said to him, "What hath to-night to do +with yester-night? Knowest thou not that there is a Helper for the +oppressed? Beware of craft and treachery, lest that mishap befal thee +which befel the sharpers who plotted against the merchant." "What was +that?" asked the hedgehog. Answered the pigeon:—I have heard tell this +tale of + + +The Merchant and the Two Shapers + +In a city called Sindah there was once a very wealthy merchant, who +made ready his camel-loads and equipped himself with goods and set out +with his outfit for such a city, purposing to sell it there. Now he +was followed by two sharpers, who had made up into bales what +merchandise they could get; and, giving out to the merchant that they +also were merchants, wended with him by the way. So halting at the +first halting-place they agreed to play him false and take all he had; +but at the same time, each inwardly plotted foul play to the other, +saying in his mind, "If I can cheat my comrade, times will go well with +me and I shall have all these goods for myself." So after planning +this perfidy, one of them took food and putting therein poison, brought +it to his fellow; the other did the same and they both ate of the +poisoned mess and they both died. Now they had been sitting with the +merchant; so when they left him and were long absent from him, he +sought for tidings of them and found the twain lying dead; whereby he +knew that they were sharpers who had plotted to play him foul, but +their foul play had recoiled upon themselves. So the merchant was +preserved and took what they had. Then quoth the Sultan, "O Shahrazad, +verily thou hast aroused me to all whereof I was negligent! So +continue to edify me with these fables." Quoth she:—It hath reached +me, O King, that men tell this tale of + + +THE THIEF AND HIS MONKEY[FN#171] + +A certain man had a monkey and that man was a thief, who never entered +any of the street-markets of the city wherein he dwelt, but he made off +with great profit. Now it came to pass one day that he saw a man +offering for sale worn clothes, and he went calling them in the market, +but none bid for them and all to whom he showed them refused to buy of +him. Presently the thief who had the monkey saw the man with the +ragged clothes set them in a wrapper and sit down to rest for +weariness; so he made the ape sport before him to catch his eye and, +whilst he was busy gazing at it, stole the parcel from him. Then he +took the ape and made off to a lonely place, where he opened the +wrapper and, taking out the old clothes, folded them in a piece of +costly stuff. This he carried to another bazar and exposed for sale +together with what was therein, making it a condition that it should +not be opened, and tempting the folk with the lowness of the price he +set on it. A certain man saw the wrapper and its beauty pleased him; +so he bought the parcel on these terms and carried it home, doubting +not that he had done well. When his wife saw it she asked, "What is +this?" and he answered, "It is costly stuff, which I have bought at +lowest price, meaning to sell it again and take the profit." Rejoined +she, "O dupe, would this stuff be sold under its value, unless it had +been stolen? Dost thou not know that whoso buyeth aught without +examining it, falleth into error and becometh like unto the weaver?" +Quoth he, "And what is the story of the weaver?"; and quoth she:—I have +heard this take of + + +The Foolish Weaver + +There was once in a certain village a weaver who worked hard but could +not earn his living save by overwork. Now it chanced that one of the +richards of the neighbourhood made a marriage feast and invited the +folk thereto: the weaver also was present and found the guests, who +wore rich gear, served with delicate viands and made much of by the +house-master for what he saw of their fine clothes. So he said in his +mind, "If I change this my craft for another craft easier to compass +and better considered and more highly paid, I shall amass great store +of money and I shall buy splendid attire, so I may rise in rank and be +exalted in men's eyes and become even with these." Presently, he +beheld one of the mountebanks, who was present at the feast, climbing +up to the top of a high and towering wall and throwing himself down to +the ground and alighting on his feet. Whereupon the waver said to +himself, "Needs must I do as this one hath done, for surely I shall not +fail of it." So he arose and swarmed upon the wall and casting himself +down, broke his neck against the ground and died forthright. "Now I +tell thee this that thou sayst get thy living by what way thou knowest +and thoroughly understandest, lest peradventure greed enter into thee +and thou lust after what is not of thy condition." Quoth the woman's +husband, "Not every wise man is saved by his wisdom, nor is every fool +lost by his folly. I have seen it happen to a skilful charmer, well +versed in the ways of serpents, to be struck by the fangs of a +snake[FN#172] and killed, and others prevail over serpents who had no +skill in them and no knowledge of their ways." And he went contrary to +his wife and persisted in buying stolen goods below their value till he +fell under suspicion and perished therefor: even as perished the +sparrow in the tale of + + +THE SPARROW AND THE PEACOCK + +There was once upon a time a sparrow, that used every day to visit a +certain king of the birds and ceased not to wait upon him in the +mornings and not to leave him till the evenings, being the first to go +in and the last to go out. One day, a company of birds chanced to +assemble on a high mountain and one of them said to another, "Verily, +we are waxed many, and many are the differences between us, and there +is no help for it but we have a king to look into our affairs; so shall +we all be at one and our differences will disappear." Thereupon up came +that sparrow and counselled them to choose for King the peacock (that +is, the prince he used to visit). So they chose the peacock to their +King and he, become their sovereign, bestowed largesse upon them and +made the sparrow his secretary and Prime Minister. Now the sparrow was +wont by times to quit his assiduous serve in the presence and look into +matters in general. So one day he absented himself at the usual time, +whereat the peacock was sore troubled; and, while things stood thus, he +returned and the peacock said to him, "What hath delayed thee, and thou +the nearest to me of all my servants and the dearest of all my +dependents?" replied the sparrow, "I have seen a thing which is +doubtful to me and whereat I am affrighted." Asked the peacock, "What +was it thou sawest?"; and the sparrow answered, "I saw a man set up a +net, hard by my nest, peg down its pegs, strew grain in its midst and +withdraw afar off. And I sat watching what he would do when behold, +fate and fortune drave thither a crane and his wife, which fell into +the midst of the net and began to cry out; whereupon the fowler rose up +and took them. This troubled me, and such is the reason for my absence +from thee, O King of the Age, but never again will I abide in that nest +for fear of the net." Rejoined the peacock, "Depart not thy dwelling, +for against fate and lot forethought will avail the naught." And the +sparrow obeyed his bidding and said, "I will forthwith arm myself with +patience and forbear to depart in obedience to the King." So he ceased +not taking care of himself, and carrying food to his sovereign, who +would eat what sufficed him and after feeding drink his water and +dismiss the sparrow. Now one day as he was looking into matters, lo +and behold! he saw two sparrows fighting on the ground and said in his +mind, "How can I, who am the King's Wazir, look on and see sparrows +fighting in my neighbourhood? By Allah, I must make peace between +them!" So he flew down to reconcile them; but the fowler cast the net +over the whole number and the sparrow happened to be in their very +midst. Then the fowler arose and took him and gave him to his comrade, +saying, "Take care of him, " I never saw fatter or finer." But the +sparrow said to himself, "I have fallen into that which I feared and +none but the peacock inspired me with false confidence. It availed me +naught to beware of the stroke of fate and fortune, since even he who +taketh precaution may never flee from destiny. And how well said the +poet in this poetry, + + "Whatso is not to be shall ne'er become; * + No wise! and that to be must come to pass; + Yea it shall come to pass at time ordained, * + And th' Ignoramus[FN#173] aye shall cry Alas!'" + +Whereupon quoth the King, "O Shahrazad, recount me other of these +tales!"; and quoth she, "I will do so during the coming night, if life +be granted to by the King whom Allah bring to honour!"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifty-third Night, + +She said:—I will relate the + + +TALE OF ALI BIN BAKKAR AND OF SHAMS AL-NAHAR. + +It hath reached me, O august King, that in days of yore and in times +and ages long gone before, during the Caliphate of Harun al-Rashid, +there was a merchant who named his son Abú al-Hasan[FN#174] Ali bin +Táhir; and the same was great of goods and grace, while his son was +fair of form and face and held in favour by all folk. He used to enter +the royal palace without asking leave, for all the Caliph's concubines +and slave-girls loved him, and he was wont to be companion with +Al-Rashid in his cups and recite verses to him and tell him curious +tales and witty. Withal he sold and bought in the merchants' bazar, and +there used to sit in his shop a youth named Ali bin Bakkár, of the sons +of the Persian Kings[FN#175] who was formous of form and symmetrical of +shape and perfect of figure, with cheeks red as roses and joined +eyebrows; sweet of speech, laughing-lipped and delighting in mirth and +gaiety. Now it chanced one day, as the two sat talking and laughing +behold, there came up ten damsels like moons, every one of them +complete in beauty and loveliness, and elegance and grace; and amongst +them was a young lady riding on a she-mule with a saddle of brocade and +stirrups of gold. She wore an outer veil of fine stuff, and her waist +was girt with a girdle of gold-embroidered silk; and she was even as +saith the poet, + + "Silky her skin and silk that zoned waist; * + Sweet voice; words not o'er many nor too few: + Two eyes quoth Allah 'Be,' and they became; * + And work like wine on hearts they make to rue: + O love I feel! grow greater every night: * + O solace! Doom-day bring our interview." + +And when the cortčge reached Abu al-Hasan's shop, she alighted from her +mule, and sitting down on the front board,[FN#176] saluted him, and he +returned her salam. When Ali bin Bakkar saw her, she ravished his +understanding and he rose to go away; but she said to him, "Sit in thy +place. We came to thee and thou goest away: this is not fair!" Replied +he, "O my lady, by Allah, I flee from what I see; for the tongue of the +case saith, + + 'She is a sun which towereth high a-sky; * + So ease thy heart with cure by Patience lent: + Thou to her skyey height shalt fail to fly; * + Nor she from skyey height can make descent.'" + +When she heard this, she smiled and asked Abu al-Hasan, "What is the +name of this young man?"; who answered, "He is a stranger;" and she +enquired, "What countryman is he?"; whereto the merchant replied, "He +is a descendant of the Persian Kings; his name is Ali son of Bakkar and +the stranger deserveth honour." Rejoined she, "When my damsel comes to +thee, come thou at once to us and bring him with thee, that we may +entertain him in our abode, lest he blame us and say, 'There is no +hospitality in the people of Baghdad'; for niggardliness is the worst +fault a man can have. Thou hearest what I say to thee and, if thou +disobey me, thou wilt incur my displeasure and I will never again visit +thee or salute thee." Quoth Abu al-Hasan, "On my head and my eyes: +Allah preserve me from thy displeasure, fair lady!" Then she rose and +went her way. Such was her case; but as regards Ali bin Bakkar he +remained in a state of bewilderment. Now after an hour the damsel came +to Abu al-Hasan and said to him, "Of a truth my lady Shams al-Nahár, +the favourite of the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, +biddeth thee to her, thee and thy friend, my lord Ali bin Bakkar." So +he rose and, taking Ali with him, followed the girl to the Caliph's +palace, where she carried them into a chamber and made them sit down. +They talked together awhile, when behold, trays of food were set before +them, and they ate and washed their hands. Then she brought them wine, +and they drank deep and made merry; after which she bade them rise and +carried them into another chamber, vaulted upon four columns, furnished +after the goodliest fashion with various kinds of furniture, and +adorned with decorations as it were one of the pavilions of Paradise. +They were amazed at the rarities they saw; and, as they were enjoying a +review of these marvels, suddenly up came ten slave-girls, like moons, +swaying and swimming in beauty's pride, dazzling the sight and +confounding the sprite; and they ranged themselves in two ranks as if +they were of the black-eyed Brides of Paradise. And after a while in +came other ten damsels, bearing in their hands lutes and divers +instruments of mirth and music; and these, having saluted the two +guests, sat down and fell to tuning their lute-strings. Then they rose +and standing before them, played and sang and recited verses: and +indeed each one of them was a seduction to the servants of the Lord. +Whilst they were thus busied there entered other ten damsels like unto +them, high-bosomed maids and of an equal age, with black-eyes and +cheeks like the rose, joined eyebrows and looks languorous; a very +fascination to every faithful wight and to all who looked upon them a +delight; clad in various kinds of coloured silks, with ornaments that +amazed man's intelligence. They took up their station at the door, and +there succeeded them yet other ten damsels even fairer than they, clad +in gorgeous array, such as no tongue can say; and they also stationed +themselves by the doorway. Then in came a band of twenty damsels and +amongst them the lady, Shams al-Nahar hight, as she were the moon among +the stars swaying from side to side, with luring gait and in beauty's +pride. And she was veiled to the middle with the luxuriance of her +locks, and clad in a robe of azure blue and a mantilla of silk +embroidered with gold and gems of price; and her waist was girt with a +zone set with various kinds of precious stones. She ceased not to +advance with her graceful and coquettish swaying, till she came to the +couch that stood at the upper end of the chamber and seated herself +thereon. But when Ali bin Bakkar saw her, he versified with these +verses, + + "Source of mine evils, truly, she alone 's, * + Of long love-longing and my groans and moans; + Near her I find my soul in melting mood, * + For love of her and wasting of my bones." + +And finishing his poetry he said to Abu al-Hasan, "Hadst thou Dealt +more kindly with me thou haddest forewarned me of these things ere I +came hither, that I might have made up my mind and taken patience to +support what hath befallen me." And he wept and groaned and complained. +Replied Abu al-Hasan, "O my brother, I meant thee naught but good; but +I feared to tell thee this, lest such transport should betide thee as +might hinder thee from foregathering with her, and be a stumbling-block +between thee and her. But be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and +clear;[FN#177] for she to thee inclineth and to favour thee designeth." +Asked Ali bin Bakkar, "What is this young lady's name?" Answered Abu +al-Hasan, "She is hight Shams al-Nahar, one of the favourites of the +Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, and this is the palace of +the Caliphate." Then Shams al-Nahar sat gazing upon the charms of Ali +bin Bakkar and he upon hers, till both were engrossed with love for +each other. Presently she commanded the damsels, one and all, to be +seated, each in her rank and place, and all sat on a couch before one +of the windows, and she bade them sing; whereupon one of them took up +the lute and began caroling, + +"Give thou my message twice * Bring clear reply in trice! +To thee, O Prince of Beau * -ty[FN#178] with complaint I rise: +My lord, as heart-blood dear * And Life's most precious prize! +Give me one kiss in gift * Or loan, if thou devise: +And if thou crave for more * Take all that satisfies.[FN#179] +Thou donn'st me sickness-dress * Thee with health's weed I + bless." + +Her singing charmed Ali bin Bakkar, and he said to her, "Sing me more +of the like of these verses." So she struck the strings and began to +chaunt these lines, + + "By stress of parting, O beloved one, * + Thou mad'st these eyelids torment- race to run: + Oh gladness of my sight and dear desire, * + Goal of my wishes, my religion! + Pity the youth whose eyne are drowned in tears * + Of lover gone distraught and clean undone." + +When she had finished her verses, Shams al-Nahar said to another +damsel, "Let us hear something from thee!" So she played a lively +measure and began these couplets, + + "His[FN#180] looks have made me drunken, not his wine; * + His grace of gait disgraced sleep to these eyne: + Dazed me no cup, but cop with curly crop; * + His gifts overcame me not the gifts of vine: + His winding locks my patience-clue unwound: * + His robed beauties robbed all wits of mine." + +When Shams Al-Nahar heard this recital from the damsel, she sighed +heavily and the song pleased her. Then she bade another damsel sing; so +she took the lute and began chanting, + + "Face that with Sol in Heaven lamping vies; * + Youth-tide's fair fountain which begins to rise; + Whose curly side-beard writeth writ of love, * + And in each curl concealeth mysteries: + Cried Beauty, 'When I met this youth I knew * + 'Tis Allah's loom such gorgeous robe supplies.'" + +When she had finished her song, Ali bin Bakkar said to the slave-maiden +nearest him, "Sing us somewhat, thou O damsel." So she took the lute +and began singing, + + "Our trysting-time is all too short * + For this long coyish coquetry: + How long this 'Nay, Nay!' and 'Wait, wait?' * + This is not old nobility! + And now that Time deigns lend delight * + Profit of th' opportunity." + +When she ended, Ali bin Bakkar followed up her song with flowing tears; +and, as Shams al-Nahar saw him weeping and groaning and complaining, +she burned with love-longing and desire; and passion and transport +consumed her. So she rose from the sofa and came to the door of the +alcove, where Ali met her and they embraced with arms round the neck, +and fell down fainting in the doorway; whereupon the damsels came to +them and carrying them into the alcove, sprinkled rose-water upon them +both. When they recovered, they found not Abu al-Hasan who had hidden +himself by the side of a couch, and the young lady said, "Where is Abu +al-Hasan?" So he showed himself to her from beside the couch and she +saluted him, saying, "I pray Allah to give me the means of requiting +thee, O kindest of men!" Then she turned to Ali bin Bakkar and said to +him, "O my lord, passion hath not reached this extreme pass with thee +without my feeling the like; but we have nothing to do save to bear +patiently what calamity hath befallen us." Replied he, "By Allah, O my +lady, union with thee may not content me nor gazing upon thee assuage +the fire thou hast lighted, nor shall leave me the love of thee which +hath mastered my heart but with the leaving of my life." So saying, he +wept and the tears ran down upon his cheeks like thridded pearls; and +when Shams al-Nahar saw him weep, she wept for his weeping. But Abu +al-Hasan exclaimed, "By Allah, I wonder at your case and am confounded +at your condition; of a truth, your affair is amazing and your chance +dazing. What! this weeping while ye are yet together: then how will it +be what time ye are parted and far separated?" And he continued, +"Indeed, this is no tide for weeping and wailing, but a season for +meeting and merry-making; rejoice, therefore, and take your pleasure +and shed no more tears!" Then Shams al-Nahar signed to a slave-girl, +who arose and presently returned with handmaids bearing a table, whose +dishes of silver were full of various rich viands. They set the table +before the pair and Shams al-Nahar began to eat[FN#181] and to place +tid-bits in the mouth of Ali bin Bakkar; and they ceased not so doing +till they were satisfied, when the table was removed and they washed +their hands. Then the waiting-women fetched censers with all manner of +incense, aloe-wood and ambergris and mixed scents; and +sprinkling-flasks full of rose-water were also brought and they were +fumigated and perfumed. After this the slaves set on vessels of graven +gold, containing all kinds of sherbets, besides fruits fresh and dried, +that heart can desire and eye delight in; and lastly one brought a +flagon of carnelion full of old wine. Then Shams al-Nahar chose out ten +handmaids to attend on them and ten singing women; and, dismissing the +rest to their apartments, bade some of those who remained strike the +lute. They did as she bade them and one of them began to sing, + + "My soul to him who smiled back my salute, * + In breast reviving hopes that were no mo'e: + The hand o' Love my secret brought to light, * + And censor's tongues what lies my ribs below:[FN#182] + My tear-drops ever press twixt me and him, * + As though my tear-drops showing love would flow." + +When she had finished her singing, Shams al-Nahar rose and, filling a +goblet, drank it off, then crowned it again and handed it to Ali bin +Bakkar;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Shams al-Nahar +filled a goblet and handed it to Ali bin Bakkar; after which she bade +another damsel sing; and she began singing these couplets, + + "My tears thus flowing rival with my wine, * + Pouring the like of what fills cup to brink:[FN#183] + By Allah wot I not an run these eyne * + Wi' wine, or else it is of tears I drink." + +And when she ended her recitation, Ali bin Bakkar drained his cup and +returned it to Shams al-Nahar. She filled it again and gave it to Abu +al-Hasan who tossed it off. Then she took the lute, saying, "None shall +sing over my cup save myself;" so she screwed up the strings and +intoned these verses, + +"The tears run down his cheeks in double row, * + And in his breast high flameth lover-lowe: +He weeps when near, a-fearing to be far; * + And, whether far or near, his tear-drops flow." + +And the words of another, + +"Our life to thee, O cup-boy Beauty-dight! * + From parted hair to calves; from black to white: +Sol beameth from thy hands, and from thy lips * + Pleiads, and full Moon through thy collar's night,[FN#184] +Good sooth the cups, which made our heads fly round, * + Are those thine eyes pass round to daze the sight: +No wonder lovers hail thee as full moon * + Waning to them, for self e'er waxing bright: +Art thou a deity to kill and quicken, * + Bidding this fere, forbidding other wight? +Allah from model of thy form made Beau * + -ty and the Zephyr scented with thy sprite. +Thou art not of this order of human * + -ity but angel lent by Heaven to man." + +When Ali bin Bakkar and Abu al-Hasan and those present heard Shams +al-Nahar's song, they were like to fly for joy, and sported and +laughed; but while they were thus enjoying themselves lo! up came a +damsel, trembling for fear and said, "O my lady, the Commander of the +Faithful's eunuchs are at the door, Afíf and Masrúr and Marján[FN#185] +and others whom wot I not." When they heard this they were like to die +with fright, but Shams al-Nahar laughed and said, "Have no fear!" Then +quoth she to the damsel, "Keep answering them whilst we remove hence." +And she caused the doors of the alcove to be closed upon Ali and Abu +al-Hasan, and let down the curtains over the entrance (they being still +within); after which she shut the door of the saloon and went out by +the privy wicket into the flower-garden, where she seated herself on a +couch she had there and made one of the damsels knead her feet.[FN#186] +Then she dismissed the rest of her women to their rooms and bade the +portress admit those who were at the door; whereupon Masrur entered, he +and his company of twenty with drawn swords. And when they saluted her, +she asked, "Wherefore come ye?"; whereto they answered, "The Commander +of the Faithful saluteth thee. Indeed he is desolated for want of thy +sight; he letteth thee know that this be to him a day of joy and great +gladness and he wisheth to seal his day and complete his pleasure with +thy company at this very hour. So say, wilt go to him or shall he come +to thee?" Upon this she rose and, kissing the earth, replied, "I hear +and I obey the commandment of the Prince of True Believers!" Then she +summoned the women guards of her household and other slave-damsels, who +lost no time in attending upon her and made a show of obeying the +Caliph's orders. And albeit everything about the place was in +readiness, she said to the eunuchs, "Go to the Commander of the +Faithful and tell him that I await him after a little space, that I may +make ready for him a place with carpets and other matters." So they +returned in haste to the Caliph, whilst Shams al-Nahar, doffing her +outer gear, repaired to her lover, Ali bin Bakkar, and drew him to her +bosom and bade him farewell, whereat he wept sore and said, "O my lady, +this leave-taking will cause the ruin of my very self and the loss of +my very soul; but I pray Allah grant me patience to support the passion +wherewith he hath afflicted me!" Replied she, "By Allah, none shall +suffer perdition save I; for thou wilt fare forth to the bazar and +consort with those that shall divert thee, and thy life will be sound +and thy love hidden forsure; but I shall fall into trouble and +tristesse nor find any to console me, more by token that I have given +the Caliph a tryst, wherein haply great peril shall betide me by reason +of my love for thee and my longing for thee and my grief at being +parted from thee. For with what tongue shall I sing and with what heart +shall I present myself before the Caliph? and with what speech shall I +company the Commander of the Faithful in his cups? and with what eyes +shall I look upon a place where thou art absent? and with what taste +shall I drink wine of which thou drinkest not?" Quoth Abu al-Hasan, "Be +not troubled but take patience and be not remiss in entertaining the +Commander of the Faithful this night, neither show him any neglect, but +be of good heart." Now at this juncture, behold, up came a damsel, who +said to Shams al-Nahar, "O my lady, the Caliph's pages are come." So +she hastily rose to her feet and said to the maid, "Take Abu al-Hasan +and his friend and carry them to the upper balcony[FN#187] giving upon +the garden and there leave them till darkness come on; when do thou +contrive to carry them forth." Accordingly the girl led them up to the +balcony and, locking the door upon them both, went her way. As they sat +looking on the garden lo! the Caliph appeared escorted by near an +hundred eunuchs, with drawn swords in hand and girt about with a score +of damsels, as they were moons, all clad in the richest of raiment and +on each one's head was a crown set with jewels and rubies; while each +carried a lighted flambeau. The Caliph walked in their midst, they +encompassing him about on all sides, and Masrur and Afíf and +Wasíf[FN#188] went before him and he bore himself with a graceful gait. +So Shams al-Nahar and her maidens rose to receive him and, meeting him +at the garden-door, kissed ground between his hands; nor did they cease +to go before him till they brought him to the couch whereon he sat +down, whilst all the waiting-women who were in the garden and the +eunuchs stood before him and there came fair handmaids and concubines +holding in hand lighted candles and perfumes and incense and +instruments of mirth and music. Then the Sovereign bade the singers sit +down, each in her place, and Shams al-Nahar came up and, seating +herself on a stool by the side of the Caliph's couch, began to converse +with him; all this happening whilst Abu al-Hasan and Ali bin Bakkar +looked on and listened, unseen of the King. Presently the Caliph fell +to jesting and toying with Shams al-Nahar and both were in the highest +spirits, glad and gay, when he bade them throw open the garden +pavilion. So they opened the doors and windows and lighted the tapers +till the place shone in the season of darkness even as the day. Then +the eunuchs removed thither the wine-service and (quoth Abu al-Hasan) +"I saw drinking-vessels and rarities whose like mine eyes never beheld, +vases of gold and silver and all manner of noble metals and precious +stones, such as no power of description can describe, till indeed it +seemed to me I was dreaming, for excess of amazement at what I saw!" +But as for Ali bin Bakkar, from the moment Shams al-Nahar left him, he +lay strown on the ground for stress of love and desire; and, when he +revived, he fell to gazing upon these things that had not their like +and saying to Abu al-Hasan, "O my brother, I fear lest the Caliph see +us or come to know of our case; but the most of my fear is for thee. +For myself, of a truth I know that I am about to be lost past recourse, +and the cause of my destruction is naught but love and longing and +excess of desire and distraction, and disunion from my beloved after +union with her; but I beseech Allah to deliver us from this perilous +predicament." And they ceased not to look out of the balcony on the +Caliph who was taking his pleasure, till the banquet was spread before +him, when he turned to one of the damsels and said to her, "O +Gharám,[FN#189] let us hear some of thine enchanting songs." So she +took the lute and tuning it, began singing, + +"The longing of a Bedouin maid, whose folks are far away, * + Who yearns after the willow of the Hejaz and the + bay,[FN#190]— +Whose tears, when she on travellers lights, might for their water + serve * And eke her her passion, with its heat, their + bivouac-fire purvey,— +Is not more fierce nor ardent than my longing for my love, * + Who deems that I commit a crime in loving him + alway."[FN#191] + +Now when Shams al-Nahar heard these verses she slipped off the stool +whereon she sat and fell to the earth fainting and became insensible to +the world around her; upon which the damsels came and lifted her up. +And when Ali bin Bakkar saw this from the balcony he also slipped down +senseless, and Abu al-Hasan said, "Verily Fate hath divided love-desire +equally upon you twain!"[FN#192] As he spoke lo! in came the damsel who +had led them up to the balcony and said to him, "O Abu al-Hasan, arise +thou and thy friend and come down, for of a truth the world hath waxed +strait upon us and I fear lest our case be discovered or the Caliph +become aware of you; unless you descend at once we are dead ones." +Quoth he, "And how shall this youth descend with me seeing that he hath +no strength to rise?" Thereupon the damsel began sprinkling rose-water +on Ali bin Bakkar till he came to his senses, when Abu al-Hasan lifted +him up and the damsel made him lean upon her. So they went down from +the balcony and walked on awhile till the damsel opened a little iron +door, and made the two friends pass through it, and they came upon a +bench by the Tigris' bank. Thereupon the slave-girl clapped her +hands[FN#193] and there came up a man with a little boat to whom said +she, "Take up these two young men and land them on the opposite side." +So both entered the boat and, as the man rowed off with them and they +left the garden behind them, Ali bin Bakkar looked back towards the +Caliph's palace and the pavilion and the grounds; and bade them +farewell with these two couplets, + + "I offered this weak hand as last farewell, * + While to heart-burning fire that hand is guided: + O let not this end union! Let not this * + Be last provision for long road provided!" + +Thereupon the damsel said to the boatman, "Make haste with them both." +So he plied his oars deftly (the slave-girl being still with them);—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawning day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the boatman rowed +them towards the other bank till they reached it and landed, whereupon +she took leave of them, saying, "It were my wish not to abandon you, +but I can go no farther than this." Then she turned back, whilst Ali +bin Bakkar lay prostrate on the ground before Abu al-Hasan and by no +manner of means could he rise, till his friend said to him, "Indeed +this place is not sure and I fear lest we lose our lives in this very +spot, by reason of the lewd fellows who infest it and highwaymen and +men of lawlessness." Upon this Ali bin Bakkar arose and walked a little +but could not continue walking. Now Abu al-Hasan had friends in that +quarter; so he made search for one of them, in whom he trusted, and who +was of his intimates, and knocked at the door. The man came out quickly +and seeing them, bade them welcome and brought them into his house, +where he seated them and talked with them and asked them whence they +came. Quoth Abu al-Hasan, "We came out but now, being obliged thereto +by a person with whom I had dealings and who hath in his hands dirhams +of mine. And it reached me that he designed to flee into foreign parts +with my monies; so I fared forth to-night in quest of him, taking with +me for company this youth, Ali bin Bakkar; but, when we came hoping to +see the debtor, he hid from us and we could get no sight of him. +Accordingly we turned back, empty-handed without a doit, but it was +irksome to us to return home at this hour of the night; so weeting not +whither to go, we came to thee, well knowing thy kindness and wonted +courtesy." "Ye are welcome and well come!" answered the host, and +studied to do them honour; so the twain abode with him the rest of +their night and as soon as the daylight dawned, they left him and made +their way back without aught of delay to the city. When they came to +the house of Abu al-Hasan, he conjured his comrade to enter; so they +went in and lying down on the bed, slept awhile. As soon as they awoke, +Abu al-Hasan bade his servants spread the house with rich carpets, +saying in his mind, "Needs must I divert this youth and distract him +from thinking of his affliction, for I know his case better than +another." Then he called for water for Ali bin Bakkar who, when it was +brought, rose up from his bed and making his ablutions, prayed the +obligatory prayers which he had omitted for the past day and +night[FN#194]; after which he sat down and began to solace himself by +talking with his friend. When Abu al-Hasan saw this, he turned to him +and said, "O my lord, it were fitter for thy case that thou abide with +me this night, so thy breast may be broadened and the distress of +love-longing that is upon thee be dispelled and thou make merry with +us, so haply the fire of thy heart may thus be quenched." Ali replied, +"O my brother, do what seemeth good to thee; for I may not on any wise +escape from what calamity hath befallen me; so act as thou wilt." +Accordingly, Abu al-Hasan arose and bade his servants summon some of +the choicest of his friends and sent for singers and musicians who +came; and meanwhile he made ready meat and drink for them; so they sat +eating and drinking and making merry through the rest of the day till +nightfall. Then they lit the candles, and the cups of friendship and +good fellowship went round amongst them and the time passed pleasantly +with them. Presently, a singing-woman took the lute and began singing, + +"I've been shot by Fortune, and shaft of eye * + Down struck me and parted from fondest friend: +Time has proved him foe and my patience failed, * + Yet I ever expected it thus would end." + +When Ali bin Bakkar heard her words, he fell to the earth in a swoon +and ceased not lying in his fainting fit till day-break; and Abu +al-Hasan despaired of him. But, with the dawning, he came to himself +and sought to go home; nor could his friend hinder him, for fear of the +issue of his affair. So he made his servants bring a she-mule and, +mounting Ali thereon, carried him to his lodgings, he and one of his +men. When he was safe at home, Abu al-Hasan thanked Allah for his +deliverance from that sore peril and sat awhile with him, comforting +him; but Ali could not contain himself, for the violence of his love +and longing. So Abu al-Hasan rose to take leave of him and return to +his own place.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Abu al-Hasan +rose to take leave of him, Ali son of Bakkar exclaimed, "O my brother, +leave me not without news." "I hear and obey," replied the other; and +forthwith went away and, repairing to his shop, opened it and sat there +all day, expecting news of Shams al-Nahar. But none came. He passed the +night in his own house and, when dawned the day, he walked to Ali bin +Bakkar's lodging and went in and found him thrown on his bed, with his +friends about him and physicians around him prescribing something or +other, and the doctors feeling his pulse. When he saw Abu al-Hasan +enter he smiled, and the visitor, after saluting him, enquired how he +did and sat with him till the folk withdrew, when he said to him, "What +plight is this?" Quoth Ali bin Bakkar, "It was bruited abroad that I +was ill and my comrades heard the report; and I have no strength to +rise and walk so as to give him the lie who noised abroad my sickness, +but continue lying strown here as thou seest. So my friends came to +visit me; say, however, O my brother, hast thou seen the slave-girl or +heard any news of her?" He replied, "I have not seen her, since the day +we parted from her on Tigris' bank;" and he presently added, "O my +brother, beware thou of scandal and leave this weeping." Rejoined Ali, +"O my brother, indeed, I have no control over myself;" and he sighed +and began reciting, + +"She gives her woman's hand a force that fails the hand of me, * + And with red dye on wrist she gars my patience fail and + flee: +And for her hand she fears so sore what shafts her eyes + discharge, * She's fain to clothe and guard her hand with + mail-ring panoply:[FN#195] +The leach in ignorance felt my pulse the while to him I cried, * + 'Sick is my heart, so quit my hand which hath no malady:' +Quoth she to that fair nightly vision favoured me and fled, * + 'By Allah picture him nor add nor 'bate in least degree!' +Replied the Dream, 'I leave him though he die of thirst,' + I cry, * 'Stand off from water-pit and say why this + persistency.' +Rained tear-pearls her Narcissus-eyes, and rose on cheek belit * + She made my sherbet, and the lote with bits of hail she + bit."[FN#196] + +And when his recital was ended he said, "O Abu al-Hasan, I am smitten +with an affliction from which I deemed myself in perfect surety, and +there is no greater ease for me than death." Replied he, "Be patient, +haply Allah will heal thee!" Then he went out from him and repairing to +his shop opened it, nor had he sat long, when suddenly up came the +handmaid who saluted him. He returned her salam and looking at her, saw +that her heart was palpitating and that she was in sore trouble and +showed signs of great affliction: so he said to her, "Thou art welcome +and well come! How is it with Shams al-Nahar?" She answered, "I will +presently tell thee, but first let me know how doth Ali bin Bakkar." So +he told her all that had passed and how his case stood, whereat she +grieved and sighed and lamented and marvelled at his condition. Then +said she, "My lady's case is still stranger than this; for when you +went away and fared homewards, I turned back, my heart beating hard on +your account and hardly crediting your escape. On entering I found her +lying prostrate in the pavilion, speaking not nor answering any, whilst +the Commander of the Faithful sat by her head not knowing what ailed +her and finding none who could make known to him aught of her ailment. +She ceased not from her swoon till midnight, when she recovered and the +Prince of the Faithful said to her, 'What harm hath happened to thee, O +Shams al-Nahar, and what hath befallen thee this night?' Now when she +heard the Caliph's words she kissed his feet and said, 'Allah make me +thy ransom, O Prince of True Believers! Verily a sourness of stomach +lighted a fire in my body, so that I lost my senses for excess of pain, +and I know no more of my condition.' Asked the Caliph, 'What hast thou +eaten to-day?'; and she answered, 'I broke my fast on something I had +never tasted before.' Then she feigned to be recovered and calling for +a something of wine, drank it, and begged the Sovereign to resume his +diversion. So he sat down again on his couch in the pavilion and the +sitting was resumed, but when she saw me, she asked me how you fared. I +told her what I had done with you both and repeated to her the verses +which Ali bin Bakkar had composed at parting-tide, whereat she wept +secretly, but presently held her peace. After awhile, the Commander of +the Faithful ordered a damsel to sing, and she began reciting, + + 'Life has no sweet for me since forth ye fared; * + Would Heaven I wot how fare ye who forsake: + 'Twere only fit my tears were tears of blood, * + Since you are weeping for mine absence sake.' + +But when my lady heard this verse she fell back on the sofa in a +swoon,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the slave-girl +continued to Abu al-Hasan, "But when my lady heard this verse, she fell +back on the sofa in a swoon, and I seized her hand and sprinkled +rose-water on her face, till she revived, when I said to her, 'O my +lady, expose not thyself and all thy palace containeth. By the life of +thy beloved, be thou patient!' She replied, 'Can aught befal me worse +than death which indeed I seek, for by Allah, my ease is therein?' +Whilst we were thus talking, another damsel sang these words of the +poet, + + 'Quoth they, 'Maybe that Patience lend thee ease!' * + Quoth I, 'Since fared he where is Patience' place? + Covenant he made 'twixt me and him, to cut * + The cords of Patience at our last embrace!'[FN#197] + +And as soon as she had finished her verse Shams al-Nahar swooned away +once more, which when the Caliph saw, he came to her in haste and +commanded the wine to be removed and each damsel to return to her +chamber. He abode with her the rest of the night, and when dawned the +day, he sent for chirurgeons and leaches and bade them medicine her, +knowing not that her sickness arose from love and longing. I tarried +with her till I deemed her in a way of recovery, and this is what kept +me from thee. I have now left her with a number of her body-women, who +were greatly concerned for her, when she bade me go to you two and +bring her news of Ali bin Bakkar and return to her with the tidings." +When Abu al-Hasan heard her story, he marvelled and said, "By Allah, I +have acquainted thee with his whole case; so now return to thy +mistress; and salute her for me and diligently exhort her to have +patience and say to her, 'Keep thy secret!'; and tell her that I know +all her case which is indeed hard and one which calleth for nice +conduct." She thanked him and taking leave of him, returned to her +mistress. So far concerning her; but as regards Abu al-Hasan, he ceased +not to abide in his shop till the end of the day, when he arose and +shut it and locked it and betaking himself to Ali bin Bakkar's house +knocked at the door. One of the servants came out and admitted him; and +when Ali saw him, he smiled and congratulated himself on his coming, +saying, "O Abu al-Hasan, thou hast desolated me by thine absence this +day; for indeed my soul is pledged to thee during the rest of my time." +Answered the other, "Leave this talk! Were thy healing at the price of +my hand, I would cut it off ere thou couldst ask me; and, could I +ransom thee with my life, I had already laid it down for thee. Now this +very day, Shams al-Nahar's handmaid hath been with me and told me that +what hindered her coming ere this was the Caliph's sojourn with her +mistress; and she acquainted me with everything which had betided her." +And he went on to repeat to him all that the girl had told him of Shams +al-Nahar; at which Ali bin Bakkar lamented sore and wept and said to +him, "Allah upon thee, O my brother, help me in this affliction and +teach me what course I shall take. Moreover, I beg thee of thy grace to +abide with me this night, that I may have the solace of thy society." +Abu al-Hasan agreed to this request, replying that he would readily +night there; so they talked together till even-tide darkened, when Ali +bin Bakkar groaned aloud and lamented and wept copious tears, reciting +these couplets, + + "Thine image in these eyne, a-lip thy name, * + My heart thy home; how couldst thou disappear? + How sore I grieve for life which comes to end, * + Nor see I boon of union far or near." + +And these the words of another, + +"She split my casque of courage with eye-swords that sorely + smite; * She pierced my patience' ring-mail with her shape + like cane-spear light: +Patched by the musky mole on cheek was to our sight displayed * + Camphor set round with ambergris, light dawning through the + night.[FN#198] +Her soul was sorrowed and she bit carnelion stone with pearls * + Whose unions in a sugared tank ever to lurk unite:[FN#199] +Restless she sighed and smote with palm the snows that clothe her + breast, * And left a mark whereon I looked and ne'er beheld + such sight, +Pens, fashioned of her coral nails with ambergris for ink, * + Five lines on crystal page of breast did cruelly indite: +O swordsmen armed with trusty steel! I bid you all beware * + When she on you bends deadly glance which fascinates the + sprite: +And guard thyself, O thou of spear! whenas she draweth near * + To tilt with slender quivering shape, likest the nut-brown + spear." + +And when Ali bin Bakkar ended his verse, he cried out with a great cry +and fell down in a fit. Abu al-Hasan thought that his soul had fled his +body and he ceased not from his swoon till day- break, when he came to +himself and talked with his friend, who continued to sit with him till +the forenoon. Then he left him and repaired to his shop; and hardly had +he opened it, when lo! the damsel came and stood by his side. As soon +as he saw her, she made him a sign of salutation which he returned; and +she delivered to him the greeting message of her mistress and asked, +"How doth Ali bin Bakkar?" Answered he, "O handmaid of good, ask me not +of his case nor what he suffereth for excess of love-longing; he +sleepeth not by night neither resteth he by day; wakefulness wasteth +him and care hath conquered him and his condition is a consternation to +his friend." Quoth she, "My lady saluteth thee and him, and she hath +written him a letter, for indeed she is in worse case than he; and she +entrusted the same to me, saying, 'Do not return save with the answer; +and do thou obey my bidding.' Here now is the letter, so say, wilt thou +wend with me to him that we may get his reply?" "I hear and obey," +answered Abu al-Hasan, and locking his shop and taking with him the +girl he went, by a way different from that whereby he came, to Ali bin +Bakkar's house, where he left her standing at the door and walked +in.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu al-Hasan went +with the girl to the house of Ali son of Bakkar, where he left her +standing at the door and walked in to his great joy. And Abu al-Hasan +said to him, "The reason of my coming is that such an one hath sent his +handmaid to thee with a letter, containing his greeting to thee and +mentioning therein that the cause of his not coming to thee was a +matter that hath betided him. The girl standeth even now at the door: +shall she have leave to enter?"; and he signed to him that it was Shams +al-Nahar's slave-girl. Ali understood his signal and answered, "Bring +her in," and when he saw her, he shook for joy and signed to her, "How +doth thy lord?; Allah grant him health and healing!" "He is well," +answered she and pulling out the letter gave it to him. He took it and +kissing it, opened and read it; after which he handed it to Abu +al-Hasan, who found these verses written therein, + + "This messenger shall give my news to thee; * + Patience what while my sight thou canst not see: + A lover leav'st in love's insanity, * + Whose eyne abide on wake incessantly: + I suffer patience-pangs in woes that none * + Of men can medicine;—such my destiny! + Keep cool thine eyes; ne'er shall my heart forget, * + Nor without dream of thee one day shall be. + Look what befel thy wasted frame, and thence * + Argue what I am doomed for love to dree! + +"And afterwards[FN#200]: Without fingers[FN#201] I have written to +thee, and without tongue I have spoken to thee * to resume my case, I +have an eye wherefrom sleeplessness departeth not * and a heart whence +sorrowful thought stirreth not * It is with me as though health I had +never known * nor in sadness ever ceased to wone * nor spent an hour in +pleasant place * but it is as if I were made up of pine and of the pain +of passion and chagrin * Sickness unceasingly troubleth * and my +yearning ever redoubleth * desire still groweth * and longing in my +heart still gloweth * I pray Allah to hasten our union * and dispel of +my mind the confusion * And I would fain thou favour me * with some +words of thine * that I may cheer my heart in pain and repine * +Moreover, I would have thee put on a patience lief, until Allah +vouchsafe relief * And His peace be with thee."[FN#202] When Ali bin +Bakkar had read this letter he said in weak accents and feeble voice, +"With what hand shall I write and with what tongue shall I make moan +and lament? Indeed she addeth sickness to my sickness and draweth death +upon my death!" Then he sat up and taking in hand ink-case and paper, +wrote the following reply, "In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, +the Compassionate![FN#203] Thy letter hath reached me, O my lady, and +hath given ease to a sprite worn out with passion and love-longing, and +hath brought healing to a wounded heart cankered with languishment and +sickness; for indeed I am become even as saith the poet, + + 'Straitened bosom; reveries dispread; * + Slumberless eyelids; body wearied; + Patience cut short; disunion longsomest; * + Reason deranged and heart whose life is fled!' + +And know that complaining is unavailing; but it easeth him whom +love-longing disordereth and separation destroyeth and, with repeating, +'Union,' I keep myself comforted and how fine is the saying of the poet +who said, + + 'Did not in love-plight joys and sorrows meet, * + How would the message or the writ be sweet?'" + +When he had made an end of this letter, he handed it to Abu al-Hasan, +saying, "Read it and give it to the damsel." So he took it and read it +and its words stirred his soul and its meaning wounded his vitals. Then +he committed it to the girl, and when she took it Ali bin Bakkar said +to her, "Salute thy lady for me and acquaint her with my love and +longing and how passion is blended with my flesh and my bones; and say +to her that in very deed I need a woman who shall snatch me from the +sea of destruction and save me from this dilemma; for of a truth +Fortune oppresseth me with her vicissitudes; and is there any helper to +free me from her turpitudes?" And he wept and the damsel wept for his +weeping. Then she took leave of him and went forth and Abu al-Hasan +went out with her and farewelled her. So she ganged her gait and he +returned to his shop, which he opened and sat down there, as was his +wont;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu al-Hasan +farewelled the slave-girl and returned to his shop which he opened and +sat down there according to his custom; but as he tarried, he found his +heart oppressed and his breast straitened, and he was perplexed about +his case. So he ceased not from melancholy the rest of that day and +night, and on the morrow he betook himself to Ali bin Bakkar, with whom +he sat till the folk withdrew, when he asked him how he did. Ali began +to complain of desire and to descant upon the longing and distraction +which possessed him, and repeated these words of the poet. + + "Men have 'plained of pining before my time, * + Live and dead by parting been terrified: + But such feelings as those which my ribs immure * + I have never heard of, nor ever espied." + +And these of another poet, + + "I have borne for thy love what never bore * + For his fair, Kays the 'Daft one'[FN#204] hight of old: + Yet I chase not the wildlings of wold and wild * + Like Kays, for madness is manifold." + +Thereupon quoth Abu al-Hasan, "Never did I see or hear of one like unto +thee in thy love! When thou sufferest all this transport and sickness +and trouble being enamoured of one who returneth thy passion, how would +it be with thee if she whom thou lovest were contrary and contumelious, +and thy case were discovered through her perfidy?" "And Ali the son of +Bakkar" (says Abu al-Hasan) "was pleased with my words and he relied +upon them and he thanked me for what I had said and done. I had a +friend" (continued Abu al-Hasan), "to whom I discovered my affair and +that of Ali and who knew that we were intimates; but none other than he +was acquainted with what was betwixt us. He was wont to come to me and +enquire how Ali did and after a little, he began to ask me about the +damsel; but I fenced him off, saying, 'She invited him to her and there +was between him and her as much as can possibly take place, and this is +the end of their affair; but I have devised me a plan and an idea which +I would submit to thee.'" Asked his friend, "And what is that?" +Answered Abu al-Hasan, "I am a person well known to have much dealing +among men and women, and I fear, O my brother, lest the affair of these +twain come to light and this lead to my death and the seizure of my +goods and the rending of my repute and that of my family. Wherefore I +have resolved to get together my monies and make ready forthright and +repair to the city of Bassorah and there abide, till I see what cometh +of their case, that none may know of me; for love hath lorded over both +and correspondence passeth between them. At this present their +go-between and confidante is a slave-girl who hath till now kept their +counsel, but I fear lest haply anxiety get the better of her and she +discover their secret to some one and the matter, being bruited abroad, +might bring me to great grief and prove the cause of my ruin; for I +have no excuse to offer my accusers." Rejoined his friend, "Thou hast +acquainted me with a parlous affair, from the like of which the wise +and understanding will shrink with fear. Allah avert from thee the evil +thou dreadest with such dread and save thee from the consequences thou +apprehendest! Assuredly thy recking is aright." So Abu al-Hasan +returned to his place and began ordering his affairs and preparing for +his travel; nor had three days passed ere he made an end of his +business and fared forth Bassorah-wards. His friend came to visit him +three days after but finding him not, asked of him from the neighbours +who answered, "He set out for Bassorah three days ago, for he had +dealings with its merchants and he is gone thither to collect monies +from his debtors; but he will soon return." The young man was +confounded at the news and knew not whither to wend; and he said in his +mind, "Would I had not parted from Abu al-Hasan!" Then he bethought him +of some plan whereby he should gain access to Ali bin Bakkar; so he +went to his lodging, and said to one of his servants, "Ask leave for me +of thy lord that I may go in and salute him." The servant entered and +told his master and presently returning, invited the man to walk in. So +he entered and found Ali bin Bakkar thrown back on the pillow and +saluted him. Ali returned his greeting and bade him welcome; whereupon +the young man began to excuse himself for having held aloof from him +all that while and added, "O my lord, between Abu al-Hasan and myself +there was close friendship, so that I used to trust him with my secrets +and could not sever myself from him an hour. Now it so chanced that I +was absent three days' space on certain business with a company of my +friends; and, when I came back and went to him, I found his shop locked +up; so I asked the neighbours about him and they replied, 'He is gone +to Bassorah.' Now I know he had no surer friend than thou; so, by +Allah, tell me what thou knowest of him." When Ali bin Bakkar heard +this, his colour changed and he was troubled and answered, "I never +heard till this day of his departure and, if the case be as thou +sayest, weariness is come upon me." And he began repeating, + + "For joys that are no more I wont to weep, * + While friends and lovers stood by me unscattered; + This day when disunited me and them * + Fortune, I weep lost loves and friendship shattered." + +Then he hung his head ground-wards in thought awhile and presently +raising it and looking to one of his servants, said, "Go to Abu +al-Hasan's house and enquire anent him whether he be at home or +journeying abroad. If they say, 'He is abroad'; ask whither he be +gone." The servant went out and returning after a while said to his +master, "When I asked for Abu al-Hasan, his people told me that he was +gone on a journey to Bassorah; but I saw a damsel standing at the door +who, knowing me by sight, though I knew her not, said to me, 'Art thou +not servant to Ali bin Bakkar?' 'Even so,' answered I; and she +rejoined, 'I bear a message for him from one who is the dearest of all +folk to him.' So she came with me and she is now standing at the door." +Quoth Ali bin Bakkar, "Bring her in." The servant went out to her and +brought her in, and the man who was with Ali looked at her and found +her pretty. Then she advanced to the son of Bakkar and saluted him.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say, + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixtieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +slave-girl came in to Ali bin Bakkar, she advanced to him and saluted +him and spake with him secretly; and from time to time during the +dialogue he exclaimed with an oath and swore that he had not talked and +tattled of it. Then she took leave of him and went away. Now Abu +al-Hasan's friend was a jeweller,[FN#205] and when she was gone, he +found a place for speech and said to Ali bin Bakkar, "Doubtless and +assuredly the Caliph's household have some demand upon thee or thou +hast dealings therewith?" "Who told thee of this?" asked Ali; and the +jeweller answered, "I know it by yonder damsel who is Shams al-Nahar's +slave-girl; for she came to me a while since with a note wherein was +written that she wanted a necklace of jewels; and I sent her a costly +collar." But when Ali bin Bakkar heard this, he was greatly troubled, +so that the jeweller feared to see him give up the ghost, yet after a +while he recovered himself and said, "O my brother, I conjure thee by +Allah to tell me truly how thou knowest her." Replied he, "Do not press +this question upon me;" and Ali rejoined, "Indeed, I will not turn from +thee till thou tell me the whole truth." Quoth the jeweller, "I will +tell thee all, on condition that thou distrust me not, and that my +words cause thee no restraint; nor will I conceal aught from thee by +way of secret but will discover to thee the truth of the affair, +provided that thou acquaint me with the true state of thy case and the +cause of thy sickness." Then he told him all that had passed from first +to last between Abu al-Hasan and himself, adding, "I acted thus only +out of friendship for thee and of my desire to serve thee;" and assured +him that he would keep his secret and venture life and good in his +service. So Ali in turn told him his story and added, "By Allah, O my +brother, naught moved me to keep my case secret from thee and from +others but my fear lest folk should lift the veils of protection from +certain persons." Rejoined the jeweller, "And I desired not to +foregather with thee but of the great affection I bear thee and my zeal +for thee in every case, and my compassion for the anguish thy heart +endureth from severance. Haply I may be a comforter to thee in the room +of my friend, Abu al-Hasan, during the length of his absence: so be +thou of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear." Thereupon Ali +thanked him and repeated these couplets, + + "An say I, 'Patient I can bear his faring,' * + My tears and sighings give my say the lie; + How can I hide these tears that course adown * + This plain, my cheek, for friend too fain to fly?" + +Then he was silent awhile, and presently said to the jeweller "Knowest +thou what secret the girl whispered to me?" Answered he, "Not I, by +Allah, O my lord!" Quoth Ali, "She fancied that I directed Abu al-Hasan +to go to Bassorah and that I had devised this device to put a stop to +our correspondence and consorting. I swore to her that this was on +nowise so; but she would not credit me and went away to her mistress, +persisting in her injurious suspicions; for she inclined to Abu +al-Hasan and gave ear to his word." Answered the young jeweller, "O my +brother, I understood as much from the girl's manner; but I will win +for thee thy wish, Inshallah!" Rejoined Ali bin Bakkar, "Who can be +with me in this and how wilt thou do with her, when she shies and flies +like a wildling of the wold?" Cried the jeweller "By Allah, needs must +I do my utmost to help thee and contrive to scrape acquaintance with +her without exposure or mischief!" Then he asked leave to depart and +Ali bin Bakkar said, "O my brother, mind thou keep my counsel;" and he +looked at him and wept. The jeweller bade him good-bye and fared +forth.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the jeweller bade +him good-bye and fared forth not knowing what he should do to win for +him his wishes; and he ceased not walking, while over-musing the +matter, till he spied a letter lying in the road. He took it up and +looked at its direction and superscription, then read it and behold, it +ran:—"From the least worthy of lovers to the most worthy of beloveds." +So he opened it and found these words written therein, + +"A messenger from thee came bringing union-hope, * + But that he erred somehow with me the thought prevailed; +So I rejoiced not; rather grew my grief still more; * + Weeting my messenger of wits and wit had failed. + +"But afterwards: Know, O my lord! that I ken not the reason why our +correspondence between thee and me hath been broken off: but, if the +cruelty arise from thy part, I will requite it with fidelity, and if +thy love have departed, I will remain constant to my love of the +parted, for I am with thee even as says the poet, + +'Be proud; I'll crouch! Bully; I'll bear! Despise; I'll pray! * + Go; I will come! Speak; I will hear! Bid; I'll obey!'" + +As he was reading lo! up came the slave-girl, looking right and left, +and seeing the paper in the jeweller's hand, said to him, "O my master, +this letter is one I let fall." He made her no answer, but walked on, +and she walked behind him, till he came to his house, when he entered +and she after him, saying, "O my master, give me back this letter, for +it fell from me." Thereon he turned to her and said, "O handmaid of +good, fear not neither grieve, for verily Allah the Protector loveth +those who protect; but tell me in truthful way thy case, as I am one +who keepeth counsel. I conjure thee by an oath not to hide from me +aught of thy lady's affairs; for haply Allah shall help me to further +her wishes and make easy by my hand that which is hard." When the +slave-girl heard these words she said, "O my lord, indeed a secret is +not lost whereof thou art the secretist; nor shall any affair come to +naught for which thou strivest. Know that my heart inclineth to thee +and would interest thee with my tidings, but do thou give me the +letter." Then she told him the whole story, adding, "Allah is witness +to whatso I say." Quoth he, "Thou hast spoken truly, for I am +acquainted with the root of the matter." Then he told her his tale of +Ali bin Bakkar and how he had learned his state of mind; and related to +her all that had passed from first to last, whereat she rejoiced; and +they two agreed that she should take the letter and carry it to Ali and +return and acquaint the jeweller with all that happened. So he gave her +the letter and she took it and sealed it up as it was before, saying, +"My mistress Shams al-Nahar gave it to me sealed; and when he hath read +it and given me its reply, I will bring it to thee." Then she took +leave and repaired to Ali bin Bakkar, whom she found waiting, and gave +him the letter. He read it and writing a paper by way of reply, gave it +to her; and she carried it to the jeweller, who tore asunder the +seal[FN#206] and read it and found written therein these two couplets, + +"The messenger, who kept our commerce hid, * + Hath failed, and showeth wrath without disguise;[FN#207] +Choose one more leal from your many friends * + Who, truth approving, disapproves of lies. + +"To proceed: Verily, I have not entered upon perfidy * nor have I +abandoned fidelity * I have not used cruelty * neither have I out off +lealty * no covenant hath been broken by me * nor hath love-tie been +severed by me * I have not parted from penitence * nor have I found +aught but misery and ruin after severance * I know nothing of that thou +avouchest * nor do I love aught but that which thou lovest * By Him who +knoweth the secret of hidden things none discover *I have no desire +save union with my lover * and my one business is my passion to conceal +* albeit with sore sickness I ail. * This is the exposition of my case +and now all hail!" When the jeweller read this letter and learnt its +contents he wept with sore weeping, and the slave-girl said to him, +"Leave not this place till I return to thee; for he suspecteth me of +such and such things, in which he is excusable; so it is my desire to +bring about a meeting between thee and my mistress, Shams al-Nahar, +howsoever I may trick you to it. For the present I left her prostrate, +awaiting my return with the reply." Then she went away and the jeweller +passed the night with a troubled mind. And when day dawned he prayed +his dawn-prayer and sat expecting the girl's coming; and behold, she +came in to him rejoicing with much joy and he asked her, "What news, O +damsel?" She answered, "After leaving thee I went to my mistress and +gave her the letter written by Ali bin Bakkar; and, when she read it +and understood it, she was troubled and confounded; but I said to her, +'O my lady, have no fear of your affair being frustrated by Abu +al-Hasan's disappearance, for I have found one to take his place, +better than he and more of worth and a good man to keep secrets.' Then +I told her what was between thyself and Abu al-Hasan and how thou +camest by his confidence and that of Ali bin Bakkar and how that note +was dropped and thou camest by it; and I also showed her how we +arranged matters betwixt me and thee." The jeweller marvelled with much +wonder, when she resumed, "And now my mistress would hear whatso thou +sayest, that she may be assured by thy speech of the covenants between +thee and him; so get thee ready to go with me to her forthwith." When +the jeweller heard the slave-girl's words, he saw that the proposed +affair was grave and a great peril to brave, not lightly to be +undertaken or suddenly entered upon, and he said to her, "O my sister, +verily, I am of the ordinary and not like unto Abu al-Hasan; for he +being of high rank and of well-known repute, was wont to frequent the +Caliph's household, because of their need of his merchandise. As for +me, he used to talk with me and I trembled before him the while. So, if +thy mistress would speak with me, our meeting must be in some place +other than the Caliph's palace and far from the abode of the Commander +of the Faithful; for my common sense will not let me consent to what +thou proposest." On this wise he refused to go with her and she went on +to say that she would be surety for his safety, adding, "Take heart and +fear no harm!" and pressed him to courage till he consented to +accompany her; withal, his legs bent and shivered and his hands +quivered and he exclaimed, "Allah forbid that I should go with thee! +Indeed, I have not strength to do this thing!" Replied she, "Hearten +thy heart, if it be hard for thee to go to the Caliph's palace and thou +canst not muster up courage to accompany me, I will make her come to +thee; so budge not from thy place till I return to thee with her." Then +the slave-girl went away and was absent for a while, but a short while, +after which she returned to the jeweller and said to him, "Take thou +care that there be with thee none save thyself, neither man-slave nor +girl-slave." Quoth he, "I have but a negress, who is in years and who +waiteth on me."[FN#208] So she arose and locked the door between his +negress and the jeweller and sent his man-servants out of the place; +after which she fared forth and presently returned, followed by a lady +who, entering the house, filled it with the sweet scent of her +perfumes. When the jeweller saw her, he sprang up and set her a couch +and a cushion; and she sat down while he seated himself before her. She +abode awhile without speaking till she had rested herself, when she +unveiled her face and it seemed to the jeweller's fancy as if the sun +had risen in his home. Then she asked her slave-girl, "Is this the man +of whom thou spakest to me?" "Yes," answered she; whereupon the lady +turned to the jeweller and said to him, "How is it with thee?" Replied +he, "Right well! I pray Allah for thy preservation and that of the +Commander of the Faithful." Quoth she, "Thou hast moved us to come to +thee and possess thee with what we hold secret." Then she questioned +him of his household and family; and he disclosed to her all his +circumstance and his condition and said to her, "I have a house other +than this; and I have set it apart for gathering together my friends +and brethren; and there is none there save the old negress, of whom I +spoke to thy handmaid." She asked him on what wise he came first to +know how the affair began and the matter of Abu al-Hasan and the cause +of his way-faring: accordingly he told her all he knew and how he had +advised the journey. Thereupon she bewailed the loss of Abu al-Hasan +and said to the jeweller, "Know, O such an one,[FN#209] that men's +souls are active in their lusts and that men are still men; and that +deeds are not done without words nor is end ever reached without +endeavour. Rest is won only by work."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Shams al-Nahar +thus addressed the jeweller, "Rest is gained only by work and success +is gendered only by help of the generous. Now I have acquainted thee +with our affair and it is in thy hand to expose us or to shield us; I +say no more, because thy generosity requireth naught. Thou knowest that +this my handmaiden keepeth my counsel and therefore occupieth high +place in my favour; and I have selected her to transact my affairs of +importance. So let none be worthier in thy sight than she and acquaint +her with thine affair; and be of good cheer, for on her account thou +art safe from all fear, and there is no place shut upon thee but she +shall open it to thee. She shall bring thee my messages to Ali bin +Bakkar and thou shalt be our intermediary." So saying, she rose, +scarcely able to rise, and fared forth, the jeweller faring before her +to the door of her house, after which he returned and sat down again in +his place, having seen of her beauty and heard of her speech what +dazzled him and dazed his wit, and having witnessed of her grace and +courtesy what bewitched his sprite. He sat musing on her perfections +till his mind waxed tranquil, when he called for food and ate enough to +keep soul and body together. Then he changed his clothes and went out; +and, repairing to the house of the youth Ali bin Bakkar, knocked at the +door. The servants hastened to admit him and walked before him till +they had brought him to their master, whom he found strown upon his +bed. Now when he saw the jeweller, he said to him, "Thou hast tarried +long from me, and that hath heaped care upon my care." Then he +dismissed his servants and bade the doors be shut; after which he said +to the jeweller, "By Allah, O my brother, I have not closed my eyes +since the day I saw thee last; for the slave-girl came to me yesterday +with a sealed letter from her mistress Shams al-Nahar;" and went on to +tell him all that had passed with her, adding, "By the Lord, I am +indeed perplexed concerning mine affair and my patience faileth me: for +Abu al-Hasan was a comforter who cheered me because he knew the +slave-girl." When the jeweller heard his words, he laughed; and Ali +said, "Why dost thou laugh at my words, thou on whose coming I +congratulated myself and to whom I looked for provision against the +shifts of fortune?" Then he sighed and wept and repeated these +couplets,[FN#210] + + "Full many laugh at tears they see me shed * + Who had shed tears an bore they what I bore; + None feeleth pity for th' afflicted's woe, * + Save one as anxious and in woe galore: + My passion, yearning, sighing, thought, repine * + Are for me cornered in my heart's deep core: + He made a home there which he never quits, * + Yet rare our meetings, not as heretofore: + No friend to stablish in his place I see; * + No intimate but only he and —he." + +Now when the jeweller heard these lines and understood their +significance, he wept also and told him all that had passed betwixt +himself and the slave-girl and her mistress since he left him. And Ali +bin Bakkar gave ear to his speech, and at every word he heard his +colour shifted from white to red and his body grew now stronger and +then weaker till the tale came to an end, when he wept and said, "O my +brother, I am a lost man in any case: would mine end were nigh, that I +might be at rest from all this! But I beg thee, of thy favour, to be my +helper and comforter in all my affairs till Allah fulfil whatso be His +will; and I will not gainsay thee with a single word." Quoth the +jeweller, "Nothing will quench thy fire save union with her whom thou +lovest; and the meeting must be in other than this perilous place. +Better it were in a house of mine where the girl and her mistress met +me; which place she chose for herself, to the intent that ye twain may +there meet and complain each to other of what you have suffered from +the pangs of love." Quoth Ali bin Bakkar, "O good Sir, do as thou wilt +and with Allah be thy reward!; and what thou deemest is right do it +forthright: but be not long in doing it, lest I perish of this +anguish." "So I abode with him (said the jeweller) that night +conversing with him till the morning morrowed,"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the jeweller +continued:—"So I abode with him that night conversing with him till the +morning morrowed, when I prayed the dawn-prayers and, going out from +him, returned to my house. Hardly had I settled down when the damsel +came up and saluted me; and I returned her salutation and told her what +had passed between myself and Ali bin Bakkar, and she said, 'Know that +the Caliph hath left us and there is no one in our place and it is +safer for us and better.' Replied I, 'Sooth thou sayest; yet is it not +like my other house which is both fitter and surer for us;' and the +slave-girl rejoined 'Be it as thou seest fit. I am now going to my lady +and will tell her what thou sayest and acquaint her with all thou hast +mentioned.' So she went away and sought her mistress and laid the +project before her, and presently returned and said to me, 'It is to be +as thou sayest: so make us ready the place and expect us.' Then she +took out of her breast-pocket a purse of dinars and gave this message, +'My lady saluteth thee and saith to thee, 'Take this and provide +therewith what the case requireth.' But I swore that I would accept +naught of it; so she took the purse and returning to her mistress, told +her, 'He would not receive the money, but gave it back to me.' 'No +matter,' answered Shams al-Nahar. As soon as the slave-girl was gone" +(continued the jeweller), "I arose and betook myself to my other house +and transported thither all that was needful, by way of vessels and +furniture and rich carpets; and I did not forget china vases and cups +of glass and gold and silver; and I made ready meat and drink required +for the occasion. When the damsel came and saw what I had done, it +pleased her and she bade me fetch Ali bin Bakkar; but I said, 'None +shall bring him save thou.' Accordingly she went to him and brought him +back perfectly dressed and looking his best. I met him and greeted him +and then seated him upon a divan befitting his condition, and set +before him sweet-scented flowers in vases of china and vari-coloured +glass.[FN#211] Then I set on a tray of many-tinted meats such as +broaden the breast with their sight, and sat talking with him and +diverting him, whilst the slave-girl went away and was absent till +after sundown-prayers, when she returned with Shams al-Nahar, attended +by two maids and none else. Now as soon as she saw Ali bin Bakkar and +he saw her, he rose and embraced her, and she on her side embraced him +and both fell in a fit to the ground. They lay for a whole hour +insensible; then, coming to themselves, they began mutually to complain +of the pains of separation. Thereupon they drew near to each other and +sat talking charmingly, softly, tenderly; after which they somewhat +perfumed themselves and fell to thanking me for what I had done for +them. Quoth I, 'Have ye a mind for food?' 'Yes,' quoth they. So I set +before them a small matter of food and they ate till they were +satisfied and then washed their hands; after which I led them to +another sitting-room and brought them wine. So they drank and drank +deep and inclined to each other; and presently Shams al-Nahar said to +me, 'O my master, complete thy kindness by bringing us a lute or other +instrument of mirth and music that the measure of our joy may be fully +filled.' I replied, 'On my head and eyes!' and rising brought her a +lute, which she took and tuned; then laying it in her lap she touched +it with a masterly touch, at once exciting to sadness and changing +sorrow to gladness; after which she sang these two couplets, + + 'My sleeplessness would show I love to bide on wake; * + And would my leanness prove that sickness is my make: + And tear-floods course adown the cheeks they only scald; * + Would I knew union shall disunion overtake!' + +Then she went on to sing the choicest and most affecting poesy to many +and various modes, till our senses were bewitched and the very room +danced with excess of delight and surprise at her sweet singing; and +neither thought nor reason was left in us. When we had sat awhile and +the cup had gone round amongst us, the damsel took the lute and sang to +a lively measure these couplets, + +My love a meeting promised me and kept it faithfully, * + One night as many I shall count in number and degree: +O Night of joyance Fate vouchsafed to faithful lovers tway, * + Uncaring for the railer loon and all his company! +My lover lay the Night with me and clipt me with his right, * + While I with left embraced him, a-faint for ecstasy; +And hugged him to my breast and sucked the sweet wine of his + lips, * Full savouring the honey-draught the honey-man sold + to me.' + +Whilst we were thus drowned in the sea of gladness" (continued the +jeweller) "behold, there came in to us a little maid trembling and +said, 'O my lady, look how you may go away for the folk have found you +out and have surrounded the house; and we know not the cause of this!' +When I heard her words, I arose startled and lo! in rushed a slave-girl +who cried, 'Calamity hath come upon you.' At the same moment the door +was burst open and there rushed in upon us ten men masked in kerchiefs +with hangers in their hands and swords by their sides, and as many more +behind them. When I saw this, the world was straitened on me for all +its wideness, and I looked to the door but saw no issue; so I sprang +from the terrace into the house of one of my neighbours and there hid +myself. Thence I found that folk had entered my lodgings and were +making a mighty hubbub; and I concluded that the Caliph had got wind of +us and had sent his Chief of the Watch to seize us and bring us before +him. So I abode confounded and ceased not remaining in my place, +without any possibility of quitting it till midnight. And presently the +house-master arose, for he had heard me moving, and he feared with +exceeding great fear of me; so he came forth from his room with drawn +brand in hand and made at me, saying, 'Who is this in my house?' Quoth +I, 'I am thy neighbour the jeweller;' and he knew me and retired. Then +he fetched a light and coming up to me, said, 'O my brother, indeed +that which hath befallen thee this night is no light matter to me.' I +replied, 'O my brother, tell me who was in my house and entered it +breaking in my door; for I fled to thee not knowing what was to do.' He +answered, 'Of a truth the robbers who attacked our neighbours yesterday +and slew such an one and took his goods, saw thee on the same day +bringing furniture into this house; so they broke in upon thee and +stole thy goods and slew thy guests.' Then we arose" (pursued the +jeweller), "I and he, and repaired to my house, which we found empty +without a stick remaining in it; so I was confounded at the case and +said to myself, 'As for the gear I care naught about its loss, albeit I +borrowed part of the stuff from my friends and it hath come to grief; +yet is there no harm in that, for they know my excuse in the plunder of +my property and the pillage of my place. But as for Ali bin Bakkar and +the Caliph's favourite concubine, I fear lest their case get bruited +abroad and this cause the loss of my life.' So I turned to my neighbour +and said to him, 'Thou art my brother and my neighbour and wilt cover +my nakedness; what then dost thou advise me to do?' The man answered, +'What I counsel thee to do is to keep quiet and wait; for they who +entered thy house and took thy goods have murdered the best men of a +party from the palace of the Caliphate and have killed not a few of the +watchmen: the government officers and guards are now in quest of them +on every road and haply they will hit upon them, whereby thy wish will +come about without effort of thine.'" The jeweller hearing these words +returned to his other house, that wherein he dwelt,—and Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the jeweller +heard these words he returned to his other house wherein he dwelt, and +said to himself, "Indeed this that hath befallen me is what Abu +al-Hasan feared and from which he fled to Bassorah. And now I have +fallen into it." Presently the pillage of his pleasure-house was noised +abroad among the folk, and they came to him from all sides and places, +some exulting in his misfortune and others excusing him and condoling +with his sorrow; whilst he bewailed himself to them and for grief +neither ate meat nor drank drink. And as he sat, repenting him of what +he had done, behold one of his servants came in to him and said, "There +is a person at the door who asketh for thee; and I know him not." The +jeweller went forth to him and saluted him who was a stranger; and the +man whispered to him, "I have somewhat to say between our two selves." +Thereupon he brought him in and asked him, "What hast thou to tell me?" +Quoth the man, "Come with me to thine other house;" and the jeweller +enquired, "Dost thou then know my other house?" Replied the other, "I +know all about thee and I know that also whereby Allah will dispel thy +dolours." "So I said to myself" (continued the jeweller) "'I will go +with him whither he will;' and went out and walked on till we came to +my second house; and when the man saw it he said to me, 'It is without +door or doorkeeper, and we cannot possibly sit in it; so come thou with +me to another place.' Then the man continued passing from stead to +stead (and I with him) till night overtook us. Yet I put no question to +him of the matter in hand and we ceased not to walk on, till we reached +the open country. He kept saying, 'Follow me,' and quickened his pace +to a trot, whilst I trotted after him heartening my heart to go on, +until we reached the river, where he took boat with me, and the boatman +rowed us over to the other bank. Then he landed from the boat and I +landed after him: and he took my hand and led me to a street which I +had never entered in all my days, nor do I know in what quarter it was. +Presently the man stopped at the door of a house, and opening it +entered and made me enter with him; after which he locked the door with +an iron padlock,[FN#212] and led me along the vestibule, till he +brought me in the presence of ten men who were as though they were one +and the same man; they being brothers. We saluted them" (continued the +jeweller) "and they returned our greeting and bade us be seated; so we +sat down. Now I was like to die for excess of weariness; but they +brought me rose-water and sprinkled it on my face; after which they +gave me a sherbet to drink and set before me food whereof some of them +ate with me. Quoth I to myself, 'Were there aught harmful in the food, +they would not eat with me.' So I ate, and when we had washed our +hands, each of us returned to his place. Then they asked me, 'Dost thou +know us?' and I answered, 'No! nor in my life have I ever seen you; +nay, I know not even him who brought me hither.' Said they, 'Tell us +thy tidings and lie not at all.' Replied I, 'Know then that my case is +wondrous and my affair marvellous; but wot ye anything about me?' They +rejoined, 'Yes! it was we took thy goods yesternight and carried off +thy friend and her who was singing to him.' Quoth I, 'Allah let down +His veil over you! Where be my friend and she who was singing to him?' +They pointed with their hands to one side and replied, 'Yonder, but, by +Allah, O our brother, the secret of their case is known to none save to +thee, for from the time we brought the twain hither up to this day, we +have not looked upon them nor questioned them of their condition, +seeing them to be persons of rank and dignity. Now this and this only +it was that hindered our killing them: so tell us the truth of their +case and thou shalt be assured of thy safety and of theirs.' When I +heard this" (continued the jeweller) "I almost died of fright and +horror, and I said to them, 'Know ye, O my brethren, that if generosity +were lost, it would not be found save with you; and had I a secret +which I feared to reveal, none but your breasts would conceal it.' And +I went on exaggerating their praises in this fashion, till I saw that +frankness and readiness to speak out would profit me more than +concealing facts; so I told them all that had betided me to the very +end of the tale. When they heard it, they said, 'And is this young man +Ali Bakkar-son and this lady Shams al-Nahar?' I replied, 'Yes.' Now +this was grievous to them and they rose and made their excuses to the +two and then they said to me, 'Of what we took from thy house part is +spent, but here is what is left of it.' So speaking, they gave me back +most of my goods and they engaged to return them to their places in my +house, and to restore me the rest as soon as they could. My heart was +set at ease till they split into two parties, one with me and the other +against me; and we fared forth from that house and such was my case. +But as regards Ali bin Bakkar and Shams al-Nahar; they were well-nigh +dying for excess of fear, when I went up to them and saluting them, +asked, 'What happened to the damsel and the two maids, and where be +they gone?', and they answered only, 'We know nothing of them.' Then we +walked on and stinted not till we came to the river-bank where the +barque lay; and we all boarded it, for it was the same which had +brought me over on the day before. The boatman rowed us to the other +side; but hardly had we landed and taken seat on the bank to rest, when +a troop of horse swooped down on us like eagles and surrounded us on +all sides and places, whereupon the robbers with us sprang up in haste +like vultures, and the boat put back for them and took them in and the +boatman pushed off into mid-stream, leaving us on the river bank, +unable to move or to stand still. Then the chief horseman said to us, +'Whence be ye!'; and we were perplexed for an answer, but I said" +(continued the jeweller), "'Those ye saw with us are rogues; we know +them not. As for us, we are singers, and they intended taking us to +sing for them, nor could we get free of them, save by subtlety and soft +words; so on this occasion they let us go, their works being such as +you have seen.' But they looked at Shams al-Nahar and Ali bin Bakkar +and said to me, 'Thou hast not spoken sooth but, if thy tale be true, +tell us who ye are and whence ye are; and what be your place and in +what quarter you dwell.' I knew not what to answer them, but Shams +al-Nahar sprang up and approaching the Captain of the horsemen spoke +with him privily, whereupon he dismounted from his steed and, setting +her on horse-back, took the bridle and began to lead his beast. And two +of his men did the like with the youth, Ali bin Bakkar, and it was the +same with myself. The Commandant of the troop ceased not faring on with +us, till they reached a certain part of the river bank, when he sang +out in some barbarous jargon[FN#213] and there came to us a number of +men with two boats. Then the Captain embarked us in one of them (and he +with us) whilst the rest of his men put off in the other, and rowed on +with us till we arrived at the palace of the Caliphate where Shams +al-Nahar landed. And all the while we endured the agonies of death for +excess of fear, and they ceased not faring till they came to a place +whence there was a way to our quarter. Here we landed and walked on, +escorted by some of the horsemen, till we came to Ali bin Bakkar's +house; and when we entered it, our escort took leave of us and went +their way. We abode there, unable to stir from the place and not +knowing the difference between morning and evening; and in such case we +continued till the dawn of the next day. And when it was again +nightfall, I came to myself and saw Ali bin Bakkar and the women and +men of his household weeping over him, for he was stretched out without +sense or motion. Some of them came to me and thoroughly arousing me +said, 'Tell us what hath befallen our son and say how came he in this +plight?' Replied I, 'O folk, hearken to me!'"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the jeweller +answered them, "'O folk, hearken to my words and give me no trouble and +annoyance! but be patient and he will come to and tell you his tale for +himself.' And I was hard upon them and made them afraid of a scandal +between me and them, but as we were thus, behold, Ali bin Bakkar moved +on his carpet-bed, whereat his friends rejoiced and the stranger folk +withdrew from him; but his people forbade me to go away. Then they +sprinkled rose-water on his face and he presently revived and sensed +the air; whereupon they questioned him of his case, and he essayed to +answer them but his tongue could not speak forthright and he signed to +them to let me go home. So they let me go, and I went forth hardly +crediting my escape and returned to my own house, supported by two men. +When my people saw me thus, they rose up and set to shrieking and +slapping their faces; but I signed to them with my hand to be silent +and they were silent. Then the two men went their way and I threw +myself down on my bed, where I lay the rest of the night and awoke not +till the forenoon, when I found my people gathered round me and saying, +'What calamity befel thee, and what evil with its mischief did fell +thee?' Quoth I 'Bring me somewhat to drink.' So they brought me drink, +and I drank of it what I would and said to them, 'What happened, +happened.' Thereupon they went away and I made my excuses to my +friends, and asked if any of the goods that had been stolen from my +other house had been returned. They answered, 'Yes! some of them have +come back; by token that a man entered and threw them down within the +doorway and we saw him not.' So I comforted myself and abode in my +place two days, unable to rise and leave it; and presently I took +courage and went to the bath, for I was worn out with fatigue and +troubled in mind for Ali bin Bakkar and Shams al-Nahar, because I had +no news of them all this time and could neither get to Ali's house nor, +out of fear for my life, take my rest in mine own. And I repented to +Almighty Allah of what I had done and praised Him for my safety. +Presently my fancy suggested to me to go to such and such a place and +see the folk and solace myself; so I went on foot to the cloth-market +and sat awhile with a friend of mine there. When I rose to go, I saw a +woman standing over against me; so I looked at her, and lo! it was +Shams al-Nahar's slave-girl. When I saw her, the world grew dark in my +eyes and I hurried on. She followed me, but I was seized with affright +and fled from her, and whenever I looked at her, a trembling came upon +me whilst she pursued me, saying. 'Stop, that I may tell thee +somewhat!' But I heeded her not and never ceased walking till I reached +a mosque, and she entered after me. I prayed a two-bow prayer, after +which I turned to her and, sighing, said, 'What cost thou want?' She +asked me how I did, and I told her all that had befallen myself and Ali +bin Bakkar and besought her for news of herself. She answered, 'Know +that when I saw the robbers break open thy door and rush in, I was in +sore terror, for I doubted not but that they were the Caliph's officers +and would seize me and my mistress and we should perish forthwith: so +we fled over the roofs, I and the maids; and, casting ourselves down +from a high place, came upon some people with whom we took refuge; and +they received us and brought us to the palace of the Caliphate, where +we arrived in the sorriest of plights. We concealed our case and abode +on coals of fire till nightfall, when I opened the river-gate and, +calling the boatman who had carried us the night before, said to him, +'I know not what is become of my mistress; so take me in the boat, that +we may go seek her on the river: haply I shall chance on some news of +her. Accordingly he took me into the boat and went about with me and +ceased not wending till midnight, when I spied a barque making towards +the water gate, with one man rowing and another standing up and a woman +lying prostrate between them twain. And they rowed on till they reached +the shore when the woman landed, and I looked at her, and behold, it +was Shams al-Nahar. Thereupon I got out and joined her, dazed for joy +to see her after having lost all hopes of finding her alive.'" —And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the slave-girl +went on telling the jeweller, "'I was dazed for joy to see her, after +having lost all hopes of finding her alive. When I came up to her, she +bade me give the man who had brought her thither a thousand gold +pieces; and we carried her in, I and the two maids, and laid her on her +bed; where she passed that night in a sorely troubled state; and, when +morning dawned, I forbade the women and eunuchs to go in to her, or +even to draw near her for the whole of that day; but on the next she +revived and somewhat recovered and I found her as if she had come out +of her grave. I sprinkled rose-water upon her face and changed her +clothes and washed her hands and feet; nor did I cease to coax her, +till I brought her to eat a little and drink some wine, though she had +no mind to any such matter. As soon as she had breathed the fresh air +and strength began to return to her, I took to upbraiding her, saying, +'O my lady, consider and have pity on thyself; thou seest what hath +betided us: surely, enough and more than enough of evil hath befallen +thee; for indeed thou hast been nigh upon death. She said, 'By Allah, O +good damsel, in sooth death were easier to me than what hath betided +me; for it seemed as though I should be slain and no power could save +me. When the robbers took us from the jeweller's house they asked me, +Who mayest thou be? and hearing my answer, 'I am a singing girl, they +believed me. Then they turned to Ali bin Bakkar and made enquiries +about him, 'And who art thou and what is thy condition?; whereto he +replied, 'I am of the common kind. So they took us and carried us +along, without our resisting, to their abode; and we hurried on with +them for excess of fear; but when they had us set down with them in the +house, they looked hard at me and seeing the clothes I wore and my +necklaces and jewellery, believed not my account of myself and said to +me, 'Of a truth these necklaces belong to no singing-girl; so be +soothfast and tell us the truth of thy case. I returned them no answer +whatever, saying in my mind, 'Now will they slay me for the sake of my +apparel and ornaments; and I spoke not a word. Then the villains turned +to Ali bin Bakkar, asking, 'And thou, who art thou and whence art thou? +for thy semblance seemeth not as that of the common kind. But he was +silent and we ceased not to keep our counsel and to weep, till Allah +softened the rogues' hearts to pity and they said to us, 'Who is the +owner of the house wherein we were?' We answered, 'Such an one, the +jeweller; whereupon quoth one of them, 'I know him right well and I wot +the other house where he liveth and I will engage to bring him to you +this very hour. Then they agreed to set me in a place by myself and Ali +bin Bakkar in a place by himself, and said to us, 'Be at rest ye twain +and fear not lest your secret be divulged; ye are safe from us. +Meanwhile their comrade went away and returned with the jeweller, who +made known to them our case, and we joined company with him; after +which a man of the band fetched a barque, wherein they embarked us all +three and, rowing us over the river, landed us with scant ceremony on +the opposite bank and went their ways. Thereupon up came a horse-patrol +and asked us who we were; so I spoke with the Captain of the watch and +said to him, 'I am Shams al-Nahar, the Caliph's favourite; I had +drunken strong wine and went out to visit certain of my acquaintance of +the wives of the Wazirs, when yonder rogues came upon me and laid hold +of me and brought me to this place; but when they saw you, they fled as +fast as they could. I met these men with them: so do thou escort me and +them to a place of safety and I will requite thee as I am well able to +do. When the Captain of the watch heard my speech, he knew me and +alighting, mounted me on his horse; and in like manner did two of his +men with Ali bin Bakkar. So I spoke to her' (continued the handmaid) +'and blamed her doings, and bade her beware, and said to her, 'O my +lady, have some care for thy life!' But she was angered at my words and +cried out at me; accordingly I left her and came forth in quest of +thee, but found thee not and dared not go to the house of Ali bin +Bakkar; so stood watching for thee, that I might ask thee of him and +wot how it goes with him. And I pray thee, of thy favour, to take of me +some money, for thou hast doubtless borrowed from thy friends part of +the gear and as it is lost, it behoveth thee to make it good with +folk.' I replied, 'To hear is to obey! go on;' and I walked with her +till we drew near my house, when she said to me, 'Wait here till I come +back to thee.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after the +slave-girl had addressed the jeweller, "'Wait here till I come back to +thee!' she went away and presently returned with the money, which she +put" (continued the jeweller) "into my hand, saying, 'O my master, in +what place shall we meet?' Quoth I, 'I will start and go to my house at +once and suffer hard things for thy sake and contrive how thou mayst +win access to him, for such access is difficult at this present.' Said +she, 'Let me know some spot, where I shall come to thee,' and I +answered, 'In my other house, I will go thither forthright and have the +doors mended and the place made safe again, and henceforth we will meet +there.' Then she took leave of me and went her way, whilst I carried +the money home, and counting it, found it five thousand dinars. So I +gave my people some of it and to all who had lent me aught I made good +their loss, after which I arose and took my servants and repaired to my +other house whence the things had been stolen; and I brought builders +and carpenters and masons who restored it to its former state. +Moreover, I placed my negress-slave there and forgot the mishaps which +had befallen me. Then I fared forth and repaired to Ali bin Bakkar's +house and, when I reached it, his slave-servants accosted me, saying, +'Our lord calleth for thee night and day, and hath promised to free +whichever of us bringeth thee to him; so they have been wandering about +in quest of thee everywhere but knew not in what part to find thee. Our +master is by way of recovering strength, but at times he reviveth and +at times he relapseth; and whenever he reviveth he nameth thee, and +saith, 'Needs must ye bring him to me, though but for the twinkling of +an eye;' and then he sinketh back into his torpor.' Accordingly" +(continued the jeweller) "I accompanied the slave and went in to Ali +bin Bakkar; and, finding him unable to speak, sat down at his head, +whereupon he opened his eyes and seeing me, wept and said, 'Welcome and +well come!' I raised him and making him sit up, strained him to my +bosom, and he said, 'Know, O my brother, that, from the hour I took to +my bed, I have not sat up till now: praise to Allah that I see thee +again!' And I ceased not to prop him and support him until I made him +stand on his feet and walk a few steps, after which I changed his +clothes and he drank some wine: but all this he did for my +satisfaction. Then, seeing him somewhat restored, I told him what had +befallen me with the slave-girl (none else hearing me), and said to +him, 'Take heart and be of good courage, I know what thou sufferest.' +He smiled and I added, 'Verily nothing shall betide thee save what +shall rejoice thee and medicine thee.' Thereupon he called for food, +which being brought, he signed to his pages, and they withdrew. Then +quoth he to me, 'O my brother, hast thou seen what hath befallen me?'; +and he made excuses to me and asked how I had fared all that while. I +told him everything that had befallen me, from beginning to end, +whereat he wondered and calling his servants, said, 'Bring me such and +such things.' They brought in fine carpets and hangings and, besides +that, vessels of gold and silver, more than I had lost, and he gave +them all to me; so I sent them to my house and abode with him that +night. When the day began to yellow, he said to me, 'Know thou that as +to all things there is an end, so the end of love is either death or +accomplishment of desire. I am nearer unto death, would I had died ere +this befel!; and had not Allah favoured us, we had been found out and +put to shame. And now I know not what shall deliver me from this my +strait, and were it not that I fear Allah, I would hasten my own death; +for know, O my brother, that I am like bird in cage and that my life is +of a surety perished, choked by the distresses which have befallen me; +yet hath it a period stablished firm and an appointed term.' And he +wept and groaned and began repeating, + + 'Enough of tears hath shed the lover-wight, * + When grief outcast all patience from his sprite: + He hid the secrets which united us, * + But now His eye parts what He did unite!'" + +When he had finished his verses, the jeweller said to him, "O my lord, +I now intend returning to my house." He answered, "There be no harm in +that; go and come back to me with news as fast as possible, for thou +seest my case." "So I took leave of him" (continued the jeweller) "and +went home, and hardly had I sat down, when up came the damsel, choked +with long weeping. I asked, 'What is the matter'?; and she answered, 'O +my lord, know then that what we feared hath befallen us; for, when I +left thee yesterday and returned to my lady, I found her in a fury with +one of the two maids who were with us the other night, and she ordered +her to be beaten. The girl was frightened and ran away; but, as she was +leaving the house, one of the door-porters and guards of the gate met +her and took her up and would have sent her back to her mistress. +However, she let fall some hints, which were a disclosure to him; so he +cajoled her and led her on to talk, and she tattled about our case and +let him know of all our doings. This affair came to the ears of the +Caliph, who bade remove my mistress, Shams al-Nahar, and all her gear +to the palace of the Caliphate; and set over her a guard of twenty +eunuchs. Since then to the present hour he hath not visited her nor +hath given her to know the reason of his action, but I suspect this to +be the cause; wherefore I am in fear for my life and am sore troubled, +O my lord, knowing not what I shall do, nor with what contrivance I +shall order my affair and hers; for she hath none by her more trusted +or more trustworthy than myself.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the slave-girl +thus addressed the jeweller, "'And in very sooth my lady hath none by +her more trusted or more trustworthy in matter of secrecy than myself. +So go thou, O my master, and speed thee without delay to Ali bin +Bakkar; and acquaint him with this, that he may be on his guard and +ward; and, if the affair be discovered, we will cast about for some +means whereby to save our lives.' On this" (continued the jeweller), "I +was seized with sore trouble and the world grew dark in my sight for +the slave-girl's words; and when she was about to wend, I said to her, +'What reckest thou and what is to be done?' Quoth she, 'My counsel is +that thou hasten to Ali bin Bakkar, if thou be indeed his friend and +desire to save him; thine be it to carry him this news at once without +aught of stay and delay, or regard for far and near; and mine be it to +sniff about for further news.' Then she took her leave of me and went +away: so I rose and followed her track and, betaking myself to Ali bin +Bakkar, found him flattering himself with impossible expectations. When +he saw me returning to him so soon, he said, 'I see thou hast come back +to me forthwith and only too soon.' I answered, 'Patience, and cut +short this foolish connection and shake off the pre-occupation wherein +thou art, for there hath befallen that which may bring about the loss +of thy life and good.' Now when he heard this, he was troubled and +strongly moved; and he said to me, 'O my brother, tell me what hath +happened.' Replied I, 'O my lord, know that such and such things have +happened and thou art lost without recourse, if thou abide in this thy +house till the end of the day.' At this, he was confounded and his soul +well-nigh departed his body, but he recovered himself and said to me, +'What shall I do, O my brother, and what counsel hast thou to offer.' +Answered I, 'My advice is that thou take what thou canst of thy +property and whom of thy slaves thou trustest, and flee with us to a +land other than this, ere this very day come to an end.' And he said, +'I hear and I obey.' So he rose, confused and dazed like one in +epilepsy, now walking and now falling, and took what came under his +hand. Then he made an excuse to his household and gave them his last +injunctions, after which he loaded three camels and mounted his beast; +and I did likewise. We went forth privily in disguise and fared on and +ceased not our wayfare the rest of that day and all its night, till +nigh upon morning, when we unloaded and, hobbling our camels, lay down +to sleep. But we were worn with fatigue and we neglected to keep watch, +so that there fell upon us robbers, who stripped us of all we had and +slew our slaves, when these would have beaten them off, leaving us +naked and in the sorriest of plights, after they had taken our money +and lifted our beasts and disappeared. As soon as they were gone, we +arose and walked on till morning dawned, when we came to a village +which we entered, and finding a mosque took refuge therein for we were +naked. So we sat in a corner all that day and we passed the next night +without meat or drink; and at day-break we prayed our dawn-prayer and +sat down again. Presently behold, a man entered and saluting us prayed +a two-bow prayer, after which he turned to us and said, 'O folk, are ye +strangers?' We replied, 'Yes: the bandits waylaid us and stripped us +naked, and we came to this town but know none here with whom we may +shelter.' Quoth he, 'What say ye? will you come home with me?' And" +(pursued the jeweller) "I said to Ali bin Bakkar, 'Up and let us go +with him, and we shall escape two evils; the first, our fear lest some +one who knoweth us enter this mosque and recognise us, so that we come +to disgrace; and the second, that we are strangers and have no place +wherein to lodge.' And he answered helplessly, 'As thou wilt.' Then the +man said to us again, 'O ye poor folk, give ear unto me and come with +me to my place,' and I replied, 'Hearkening and obedience;' whereupon +he pulled off a part of his own clothes and covered us therewith and +made his excuses to us and spoke kindly to us. Then we arose and +accompanied him to his house and he knocked at the door, whereupon a +little slave-boy came out and opened to us. The host entered and we +followed him;[FN#214] when he called for a bundle of clothes and +muslins for turbands, and gave us each a suit and a piece; so we +dressed and turbanded ourselves and sat us down. Presently, in came a +damsel with a tray of food and set it before us, saying, 'Eat.' We ate +some small matter and she took away the tray: after which we abode with +our host till nightfall, when Ali bin Bakkar sighed and said to me, +'Know, O my brother, that I am a dying man past hope of life and I +would charge thee with a charge: it is that, when thou seest me dead, +thou go to my parent[FN#215] and tell her of my decease and bid her +come hither that she may be here to receive the visits of condolence +and be present at the washing of my corpse, and do thou exhort her to +bear my loss with patience.' Then he fell down in a fainting fit and, +when he recovered he heard a damsel singing afar off and making verses +as she sang. Thereupon he addressed himself to give ear to her and +hearken to her voice; and now he was insensible, absent from the world, +and now he came to himself; and anon he wept for grief and mourning at +the love which had befallen him. Presently, he heard the damsel who was +singing repeat these couplets, + + 'Parting ran up to part from lover-twain * + Free converse, perfect concord, friendship fain: + The Nights with shifting drifted us apart, * + Would heaven I wot if we shall meet again: + How bitter after meeting 'tis to part, * + May lovers ne'er endure so bitter pain! + Death-grip, death-choke, lasts for an hour and ends, * + But parting-tortures aye in heart remain: + Could we but trace where Parting's house is placed, * + We would make Parting eke of parting taste!' + +When Ali son of Bakkar heard the damsel's song, he sobbed one sob and +his soul quitted his body. As soon as I saw that he was dead" +(continued the jeweller), "I committed his corpse to the care of the +house-master and said to him 'Know thou, that I am going to Baghdad, to +tell his mother and kinsfolk, that they may come hither and conduct his +burial.' So I betook myself to Baghdad and, going to my house, changed +my clothes; after which I repaired to Ali bin Bakkar's lodging. Now +when his servants saw me, they came to me and questioned me of him, and +I bade them ask permission for me to go in to his mother. She gave me +leave; so I entered and saluting her, said, 'Verily Allah ordereth the +lives of all creatures by His commandment and when He decreeth aught, +there is no escaping its fulfilment; nor can any soul depart but by +leave of Allah, according to the Writ which affirmeth the appointed +term.'[FN#216] She guessed by these words that her son was dead and +wept with sore weeping, then she said to me, 'Allah upon thee! tell me, +is my son dead?' I could not answer her for tears and excess of grief, +and when she saw me thus, she was choked with weeping and fell to the +ground in a fit. As soon as she came to herself she said to me, 'Tell +me how it was with my son.' I replied, 'May Allah abundantly compensate +thee for his loss!' and I told her all that had befallen him from +beginning to end. She then asked, 'Did he give thee any charge?'; and I +answered, 'Yes,' and told her what he had said, adding, 'Hasten to +perform his funeral.' When she heard these words, she swooned away +again; and, when she recovered, she addressed herself to do as I +charged her. Then I returned to my house; and as I went along musing +sadly upon the fair gifts of his youth, behold, a woman caught hold of +my hand;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the jeweller thus +continued:—"A woman caught hold of my hand; and I looked at her and lo! +it was the slave-girl who used to come from Shams al-Nahar, and she +seemed broken by grief. When we knew each other we both wept and ceased +not weeping till we reached my house, and I said to her, 'Knowest thou +the news of the youth, Ali bin Bakkar?' She replied, 'No, by Allah!'; +so I told her the manner of his death and all that had passed, whilst +we both wept; after which quoth I to her, 'How is it with thy +mistress?' Quoth she, 'The Commander of the Faithful would not hear a +single word against her; but, for the great love he bore her, saw all +her actions in a favourable light, and said to her, 'O Shams al-Nahar, +thou art dear to me and I will bear with thee and bring the noses of +thy foes to the grindstone. Then he bade them furnish her an apartment +decorated with gold and a handsome sleeping-chamber, and she abode with +him in all ease of life and high favour. Now it came to pass that one +day, as he sat at wine according to his custom, with his favourite +concubines in presence, he bade them be seated in their several ranks +and made Shams al-Nahar sit by his side. But her patience had failed +and her disorder had redoubled upon her. Then he bade one of the +damsels sing: so she took a lute and tuning it struck the chords, and +began to sing these verses, + +'One craved my love and I gave all he craved of me, * + And tears on cheek betray how 'twas I came to yield: +Tear-drops, meseemeth, are familiar with our case, * + Revealing what I hide, hiding what I revealed: +How can I hope in secret to conceal my love, * + Which stress of passion ever showeth unconcealed: +Death, since I lost my lover, is grown sweet to me; * + Would I knew what their joys when I shall quit the field! + +Now when Shams al-Nahar heard these verses sung by the slave-girl, she +could not keep her seat; but fell down in a fainting-fit whereupon the +Caliph cast the cup from his hand and drew her to him crying out; and +the damsels also cried out, and the Prince of True Believers turned her +over and shook her, and lo and behold! she was dead. The Caliph grieved +over her death with sore grief and bade break all the vessels and +dulcimers[FN#217] and other instruments of mirth and music which were +in the room; then carrying her body to his closet, he abode with her +the rest of the night. When the day broke, he laid her out and +commanded to wash her and shroud her and bury her. And he mourned for +her with sore mourning, and questioned not of her case nor of what +caused her condition. And I beg thee in Allah's name' (continued the +damsel) 'to let me know the day of the coming of Ali bin Bakkar's +funeral procession that I may be present at his burial.' Quoth I, 'For +myself, where thou wilt thou canst find me; but thou, where art thou to +be found, and who can come at thee where thou art?' She replied, 'On +the day of Shams al-Nahar's death, the Commander of the Faithful freed +all her women, myself among the rest;[FN#218] and I am one of those now +abiding at the tomb in such a place.' So I rose and accompanied her to +the burial-ground and piously visited Shams al-Nahar's tomb; after +which I went my way and ceased not to await the coming of Ali bin +Bakkar's funeral. When it arrived, the people of Baghdad went forth to +meet it and I went forth with them: and I saw the damsel among the +women and she the loudest of them in lamentation, crying out and +wailing with a voice that rent the vitals and made the heart ache. +Never was seen in Baghdad a finer funeral than his; and we ceased not +to follow in crowds till we reached the cemetery and buried him to the +mercy of Almighty Allah; nor from that time to this have I ceased to +visit the tombs of Ali son of Bakkar and of Shams al-Nahar. This, then, +is their story, and Allah Almighty have mercy upon them!"[FN#219] And +yet is not their tale (continued Shahrazad) more wonderful than that of +King Shahriman. The King asked her "And what was his tale?"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, as regards the + + +TALE OF KAMAR AL-ZAMAN. + +That there was in times of yore and in ages long gone before a King +called Shahrimán,[FN#220] who was lord of many troops and guards, and +officers, and who reigned over certain islands, known as the Khálidán +Islands,[FN#221] on the borders of the land of the Persians. But he was +stricken in years and his bones were wasted, without having been +blessed with a son, albeit he had four wives, daughters of Kings, and +threescore concubines, with each of whom he was wont to lie one night +in turn.[FN#222] This preyed upon his mind and disquieted him, so that +he complained thereof to one of his Wazirs, saying, "Verily I fear lest +my kingdom be lost when I die, for that I have no son to succeed me." +The Minister answered, "O King, peradventure Allah shall yet bring +something to pass; so rely upon the Almighty and be instant in prayer. +It is also my counsel that thou spread a banquet and invite to it the +poor and needy, and let them eat of thy food; and supplicate the Lord +to vouchsafe thee a son; for perchance there may be among thy guests a +righteous soul whose prayers find acceptance; and thereby thou shalt +win thy wish." So the King rose, made the lesser ablution, and prayed a +two-bow prayer,[FN#223] then he cried upon Allah with pure intention; +after which he called his chief wife to bed and lay with her +forthright. By grace of God she conceived and, when her months were +accomplished, she bore a male child, like the moon on the night of +fulness. The King named him Kamar al-Zamán,[FN#224] and rejoiced in him +with extreme joy and bade the city be dressed out in his honour; so +they decorated the streets seven days, whilst the drums beat and the +messengers bore the glad tidings abroad. Then wet and dry nurses were +provided for the boy and he was reared in splendour and delight, until +he reached the age of fifteen. He grew up of surpassing beauty and +seemlihead and symmetry, and his father loved him so dear that he could +not brook to be parted from him day or night. One day he complained to +a certain of his Ministers anent the excess of his love for his only +child, saying, "O thou the Wazir, of a truth I fear for my son, Kamar +al-Zaman, the shifts and accidents which befal man and fain would I +marry him in my life-time." Answered the Wazir, "O King, know thou that +marriage is one of the most honourable of moral actions, and thou +wouldst indeed do well and right to marry thy son in thy lifetime, ere +thou make him Sultan." On this quoth the King, "Hither with my son +Kamar al-Zaman;" so he came and bowed his head to the ground in modesty +before his sire. "O Kamar al Zaman," said King Shahriman, "of a truth I +desire to marry thee and rejoice in thee during my lifetime." Replied +he, "O my father, know that I have no lust to marry nor cloth my soul +incline to women; for that concerning their craft and perfidy I have +read many books and heard much talk, even as saith the poet, + +'Now, an of women ask ye, I reply:—* + In their affairs I'm versed a doctor rare! +When man's head grizzles and his money dwindles, * + In their affections he hath naught for share.' + +And another said:— + +'Rebel against women and so shalt thou serve Allah the more; * + The youth who gives women the rein must forfeit all hope to + soar. +They'll baulk him when seeking the strange device, Excelsior, * + Tho' waste he a thousand of years in the study of science + and lore.' " + +And when he had ended his verses he continued, "O my father, wedlock is +a thing whereto I will never consent; no, not though I drink the cup of +death." When Sultan Shahriman heard these words from his son, light +became darkness in his sight and he grieved thereat with great +grief.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventy-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King +Shahriman heard these words from his son, the light became darkness in +his sight and he grieved over his son's lack of obedience to his +directions in the matter of marriage; yet, for the great love he bore +him, he was unwilling to repeat his wishes and was not wroth with him, +but caressed him and spake him fair and showed him all manner of +kindness such as tendeth to induce affection. All this, and Kamar +al-Zaman increased daily in beauty and loveliness and amorous grace; +and the King bore with him for a whole year till he became perfect in +eloquence and elegant wit. All men were ravished with his charms; and +every breeze that blew bore the tidings of his gracious favour; his +fair sight was a seduction to the loving and a garden of delight to the +longing, for he was honey-sweet of speech and the sheen of his face +shamed the full moon; he was a model of symmetry and blandishment and +engaging ways; his shape was as the willow-wand or the rattan- cane and +his cheeks might take the place of rose or red anemone. He was, in fine +the pink of perfection, even as the poet hath said of him, + +"He came and cried they, 'Now be Allah blest! * + Praise Him that clad that soul in so fair vest!' +He's King of Beauty where the beauteous be; * + All are his Ryots,[FN#225] all obey his hest: +His lip-dew's sweeter than the virgin honey; * + His teeth are pearls in double row close press: +All charms are congregate in him alone, * + And deals his loveliness to man unrest. +Beauty wrote on those cheeks for worlds to see * + 'I testify there is none good but He.'"[FN#226] + +When the year came to an end, the King called his son to him and said, +"O my son, wilt thou not hearken to me?" Whereupon Kamar al-Zaman fell +down for respect and shame before his sire and replied, "O my father, +how should I not hearken to thee, seeing that Allah commandeth me to +obey thee and not gain-say thee?" Rejoined King Shahriman, "O my son, +know that I desire to marry thee and rejoice in thee whilst yet I live, +and make thee King over my realm, before my death." When the Prince +heard his sire pronounce these words he bowed his head awhile, then +raised it and said, "O my father, this is a thing which I will never +do; no, not though I drink the cup of death! I know of a surety that +the Almighty hath made obedience to thee a duty in religion; but, Allah +upon thee! press me not in this matter of marriage, nor fancy that I +will ever marry my life long; for that I have read the books both of +the ancients and the moderns, and have come to know all the mischiefs +and miseries which have befallen them through women and their endless +artifices. And how excellent is the saying of the poet, + +'He whom the randy motts entrap * + Shall never see deliverance! +Though build he forts a thousand-fold, * + Whose mighty strength lead-plates enhance,[FN#227] +Their force shall be of no avail; * + These fortresses have not a chance! +Women aye deal in treachery * + To far and near o'er earth's expanse +With fingers dipt in Henna-blood * + And locks in braids that mad the glance; +And eyelids painted o'er with Kohl * + They gar us drink of dire mischance.' + +And how excellently saith another, + +'Women, for all the chastity they claim, * + Are offal cast by kites where'er they list: +This night their talk and secret charms are shine, * + That night another joyeth calf and wrist: +Like inn, whence after night thou far'st at dawn, * + And lodges other wight thou hast not wist.'"[FN#228] + +Now when King Shahriman heard these his son's words and learnt the +import of his verses and poetical quotations, he made no answer, of his +excessive love for him, but redoubled in graciousness and kindness to +him. He at once broke up the audience and, as soon as the seance was +over, he summoned his Minister and taking him apart, said to him, "O +thou the Wazir! tell me how I shall deal with my son in the matter of +marriage."- -And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted stay. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventy-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King summoned +his Minister; and, taking him apart, said to him, "O thou the Wazir, +tell me what I shall do with my son in the matter of marriage. Of a +truth I took counsel with thee thereon and thou didst counsel me to +marry him, before making him King. I have spoken with him of wedlock +time after time and he still gainsaid me; so do thou, O Wazir, +forthright advise me what to do." Answered the Minister, "O King, wait +another year and, if after that thou be minded to speak to him on the +matter of marriage, speak not to him privily, but address him on a day +of state, when all the Emirs and Wazirs are present with the whole of +the army standing before thee. And when all are in crowd then send for +thy son, Kamar al-Zaman, and summon him; and, when he cometh, broach to +him the matter of marriage before the Wazirs and Grandees and Officers +of state and Captains; for he will surely be bashful and daunted by +their presence and will not dare to oppose thy will." Now when King +Shahriman heard his Wazir's words, he rejoiced with exceeding joy, +seeing success in the project, and bestowed on him a splendid robe of +honour. Then he took patience with his son another year, whilst, with +every day that passed over him, Kamar al-Zaman increased in beauty and +loveliness, and elegance and perfect grace, till he was nigh twenty +years old. Indeed Allah had clad him in the cloak of comeliness and had +crowned him with the crown of completion: his eye-glance was more +bewitching than Hárút and Marút[FN#229] and the play of his luring +looks more misleading than Tághút;[FN#230] and his cheeks shone like +the dawn rosy-red and his eyelashes stormed the keen-edged blade: the +whiteness of his brow resembled the moon shining bright, and the +blackness of his locks was as the murky night; and his waist was more +slender than the gossamer[FN#231] and his back parts than two sand +heaps bulkier, making a Babel of the heart with their softness; but his +waist complained of the weight of his hips and loins; and his charms +ravished all mankind, even as one of the poets saith in these couplets, + +"By his eyelash tendril curled, by his slender waist I swear, +By the dart his witchery feathers, fatal hurtling through the + air; +By the just roundness of his shape, by his glances bright and + keen +By the swart limping of his locks, and his fair forehead shining + sheen; +By his eyebrows which deny that she who looks on them should + sleep, +Which now commanding, now forbidding, o'er me high dominion keep; +By the roses of his cheek, his face as fresh as myrtle wreath +His tulip lips, and those pure pearls that hold the places of his + teeth; +By his noble form, which rises featly turned in even swell +To where upon his jutting chest two young pomegranates seem to + dwell +By his supple moving hips, his taper waist, the silky skin, +By all he robbed Perfection of, and holds enchained his form + within; +By his tongue of steadfastness, his nature true, and excellent, +By the greatness of his rank, his noble birth, and high descent, +Musk from my love her savour steals, who musk exhales from every + limb +And all the airs ambergris breathes are but the Zephyr's blow + o'er him. +The sun, methinks, the broad bright sun, as low before my love + should quail +As would my love himself transcend the paltry paring of his + nail!"[FN#232] + +So King Shahriman, having accepted the counsel of his Wazir, waited for +another year and a great festival,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventy-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Shahriman having +accepted the counsel of his Wazir, waited for another year and a great +festival, a day of state when the audience hall was filled with his +Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees of his reign and Officers of State and +Captains of might and main. Thereupon he sent for his son Kamar +al-Zaman who came, and kissing the ground before him three times, stood +in presence of his sire with his hands behind his back the right +grasping the left.[FN#233] Then said the King to him, "Know O my son, +that I have not sent for thee on this occasion and summoned thee to +appear before this assembly and all these officers of estate here +awaiting our orders save and except that I may lay a commandment on +thee, wherein do thou not disobey me; and my commandment is that thou +marry, for I am minded to wed thee to a King's daughter and rejoice in +thee ere I die." When the Prince heard this much from his royal sire, +he bowed his head groundwards awhile, then raising it towards his +father and being moved thereto at that time by youthful folly and +boyish ignorance, replied, "But for myself I will never marry; no, not +though I drink the cup of death! As for thee, thou art great in age and +small of wit: hast thou not, twice ere this day and before this +occasion, questioned me of the matter of marriage and I refused my +consent? Indeed thou dotest and are not fit to govern a flock of +sheep!" So saying Kamar al-Zaman unclasped his hands from behind his +back and tucked up his sleeves above his elbows before his father, +being in a fit of fury; moreover, he added many words to his sire, +knowing not what he said in the trouble of his spirits. The King was +confounded and ashamed, for that this befel in the presence of his +grandees and soldier-officers assembled on a high festival and a state +occasion; but presently the majesty of Kingship took him, and he cried +out at his son and made him tremble. Then he called to the guards +standing before him and said, "Seize him!' So they came forward and +laid hands on him and, binding him, brought him before his sire, who +bade them pinion his elbows behind his back and in this guise make him +stand before the presence. And the Prince bowed down his head for fear +and apprehension, and his brow and face were beaded and spangled with +sweat; and shame and confusion troubled him sorely. Thereupon his +father abused him and reviled him and cried, "Woe to thee, thou son of +adultery and nursling of abomination![FN#234] How durst thou answer me +on this wise before my captains and soldiers? But hitherto none hath +chastised thee,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Shahriman +cried out to his son Kamar al-Zaman, "How durst thou answer me on this +wise before my captains and soldiers? But hitherto none hath chastised +thee. Knowest thou not that this deed thou hast done were a disgrace to +him had it been done by the meanest of my subjects?" And the King +commanded his Mamelukes to loose his elbow bonds and imprison him in +one of the bastions of the citadel. So they took the Prince and thrust +him into an old tower, wherein there was a dilapidated saloon and in +its middle a ruined well, after having first swept it and cleansed its +floor-flags and set therein a couch on which they laid a mattress, a +leathern rug and a cushion; and then they brought a great lanthorn and +a wax candle, for that place was dark, even by day. And lastly the +Mamelukes led Kamar al-Zaman thither, and stationed an eunuch at the +door. And when all this was done, the Prince threw himself on the +couch, sad-spirited, and heavy- hearted; blaming himself and repenting +of his injurious conduct to his father, whenas repentance availed him +naught, and saying, "Allah curse marriage and marriageable and married +women, the traitresses all! Would I had hearkened to my father and +accepted a wife! Had I so done it had been better for me than this +jail." This is how it fared with him; but as regards King Shahri man, +he remained seated on his throne all through the day until sundown; +then he took the Minister apart and said to him "Know thou, O Wazir, +that thou and thou only west the cause of all this that hath come to +pass between me and my son by the advice thou west pleased to devise; +and so what dost thou counsel me to do now?" Answered he, "O King, +leave thy son in limbo for the space of fifteen days: then summon him +to thy presence and bid him wed; and assuredly he shall not gainsay +thee again."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir, said +to King Shahriman, "Leave thy son in limbo for the space of fifteen +days; then summon him to thy presence and bid him wed; and assuredly he +shall not gainsay thee again." The King accepted the Wazir's opinion +and lay down to sleep that night troubled at heart concerning his son; +for he loved him with dearest love because he had no other child but +this; and it was his wont every night not to sleep, save after placing +his arm under his son's neck. So he passed that night in trouble and +unease on the Prince 's account, tossing from side to side, as he were +laid on coals of Artemisia-wood[FN#235]: for he was overcome with +doubts and fears and sleep visited him not all that livelong night; but +his eyes ran over with tears and he began repeating, ; + +"While slanderers slumber, longsome is my night; * + Suffice thee a heart so sad in parting-plight; +I say, while night in care slow moments by, * + 'What! no return for thee, fair morning light?'" + +And the saying of another, + +"When saw I Pleiad-stars his glance escape * + And Pole star draught of sleep upon him pour; +And the Bier-daughters[FN#236] wend in mourning dight, * + I knew that morning was for him no more!" + +Such was the case with King Shahriman; but as regards Kamar al- Zaman, +when the night came upon him the eunuch set the lanthorn before him and +lighting the wax-candle, placed it in the candlestick; then brought him +somewhat of food. The Prince ate a little and continually reproached +himself for his unseemly treatment of his father, saying to himself, "O +my soul, knowest thou not that a son of Adam is the hostage of his +tongue, and that a man's tongue is what casteth him into deadly +perils?" Then his eyes ran over with tears and he bewailed that which +he had done, from anguished vitals and aching heart, repenting him with +exceeding repentance of the wrong wherewith he had wronged his father +and repeating, + +"Fair youth shall die by stumbling of the tongue: * + Stumble of foot works not man's life such wrong: +The slip of lip shall oft smite off the head, * + While slip of foot shall never harm one long." + +Now when he had made an end of eating, he asked for the wherewithal to +wash his hands and when the Mameluke had washed them clean of the +remnants of food, he arose and made the Wuzu-ablution and prayed the +prayers of sundown and nightfall, conjoining them in one; after which +he sat down.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Prince +Kamar al-Zaman had prayed (conjoining them in one) the prayers of +sundown and nightfall, he sat down on the well and began reciting the +Koran, and he repeated "The Cow," the "House of Imrán," and "Y. S.;" +"The Compassionate," "Blessed be the King," "Unity" and "The two +Talismans''[FN#237]; and he ended with blessing and supplication and +with saying, "I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the stoned."[FN#238] +Then he lay down upon his couch which was covered with a mattress of +satin from al- Ma'adin town, the same on both sides and stuffed with +the raw silk of Irak; and under his head was a pillow filled with +ostrich-down And when ready for sleep, he doffed his outer clothes and +drew off his bag-trousers and lay down in a shirt of delicate stuff +smooth as wax; and he donned a head-kerchief of azure Marázi[FN#239] +cloth; and at such time and on this guise Kamar al-Zaman was like the +full-orbed moon, when it riseth on its fourteenth night. Then, drawing +over his head a coverlet of silk, he fell asleep with the lanthorn +burning at his feet and the wax-candle over his head, and he ceased not +sleeping through the first third of the night, not knowing what lurked +for him in the womb of the Future, and what the Omniscient had decreed +for him. Now, as Fate and Fortune would have it, both tower and saloon +were old and had been many years deserted; and there was therein a +Roman well inhabited by a Jinniyah of the seed of Iblis[FN#240] the +Accursed, by name Maymúnah, daughter of Al- Dimiryát, a renowned King +of the Jánn.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the name of the +Jinniyah in question was Maymunah, daughter of Al-Dimiryat; a renowned +King of the Jann. And as Kamar al-Zaman continued sleeping till the +first third of the night, Maymunah came up out of the Roman well and +made for the firmament, thinking to listen by stealth to the converse +of the angels; but when she reached the mouth of the well, she saw a +light shining in the tower, contrary to custom; and having dwelt there +many years without seeing the like, she said to herself, "Never have I +witnessed aught like this"; and, marvelling much at the matter, +determined that there must be some cause therefor. So she made for the +light and found the eunuch sleeping within the door; and inside she saw +a couch spread, whereon was a human form with the wax-candle burning at +his head and the lanthorn at his feet, and she wondered to see the +light and stole towards it little by little. Then she folded her wings +and stood by the bed and, drawing back the coverlid, discovered Kamar +al-Zaman's face. She was motionless for a full hour in admiration and +wonderment; for the lustre of his visage outshone that of the candle; +his face beamed like a pearl with light; his eyelids were languorous +like those of the gazelle; the pupils of his eyes were intensely black +and brilliant[FN#241]; his cheeks were rosy red; his eye-brows were +arched like bows and his breath exhaled a scent of musk, even as saith +of him the poet, + +"I kissed him: darker grew those pupils,[FN#242] which * + Seduce my soul, and cheeks flushed rosier hue; +O heart, if slanderers dare to deem there be * + His like in chasms, Say 'Bring him hither, you!' " + +Now when Maymunah saw him, she pronounced the formula of +praise,[FN#243] and said, "Blessed be Allah, the best of Creators!"; +for she was of the true-believing Jinn; and she stood awhile gazing on +his face, exclaiming and envying the youth his beauty and loveliness. +And she said in herself, "By Allah! I will do no hurt to him nor let +any harm him; nay, from all of evil will I ransom him, for this fair +face deserveth not but that folk should gaze upon it and for it praise +the Lord. Yet how could his family find it in their hearts to leave him +in such desert place where, if one of our Márids came upon him at this +hour, he would assuredly slay him." Then the Ifritah Maymunah bent over +him and kissed him between the eyes, and presently drew back the sheet +over his face which she covered up; and after this she spread her wings +and soaring into the air, flew upwards. And after rising high from the +circle of the saloon she ceased not winging her way through air and +ascending skywards till she drew near the heaven of this world, the +lowest of the heavens. And behold, she heard the noisy flapping of +wings cleaving the welkin and, directing herself by the sound, she +found when she drew near it that the noise came from an Ifrit called +Dahnash. So she swooped down on him like a sparrow-hawk and, when he +was aware of her and knew her to be Maymunah, the daughter of the King +of the Jinn, he feared her and his side-muscles quivered; and he +implored her forbearance, saying, I conjure thee by the Most Great and +August Name and by the most noble talisman graven upon the seal-ring of +Solomon, entreat me kindly and harm me not!" When she heard these words +her heart inclined to him and she said, "Verily, thou conjurest me, O +accursed, with a mighty conjuration. Nevertheless, I will not let thee +go, till thou tell me whence thou comest at this hour." He replied, "O +Princess, Know that I come from the uttermost end of China-land and +from among the Islands, and I will tell thee of a wonderful thing I +have seen this night. If thou kind my words true, let me wend my way +and write me a patent under thy hand and with thy sign manual that I am +thy freedman, so none of the Jinn-hosts, whether of the upper who fly +or of the lower who walk the earth or of those who dive beneath the +waters, do me let or hindrance." Rejoined Maymunah, "And what is it +thou hast seen this night, O liar, O accursed! Tell me without leasing +and think not to escape from my hand with falses, for I swear to thee +by the letters graven upon the bezel of the seal-ring of Solomon David +son (on both of whom be peace!), except thy speech be true, I will +pluck out thy feathers with mine own hand and strip off thy skin and +break thy bones!" Quoth the Ifrit Dahnash son of Shamhúrish[FN#244] the +Flyer, "I accept, O my lady, these conditions."—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventy-eight Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Dahnash spoke +thus to Maymunah, "I accept, O my lady, these conditions." Then he +resumed, "Know, O my mistress, that I come to-night from the Islands of +the Inland Sea in the parts of China, which are the realms of King +Ghayúr, lord of the Islands and the Seas and the Seven Palaces. There I +saw a daughter of his, than whom Allah hath made none fairer in her +time: I cannot picture her to thee, for my tongue would fail to +describe her with her due of praise; but I will name to thee a somewhat +of her charms by way of approach. Now her hair is like the nights of +disunion and separation and her face like the days of union and +delectation; and right well hath the poet said when picturing her, + +'She dispread the locks from her head one night, * + Showing four fold nights into one night run +And she turned her visage towards the moon, * + And two moons showed at moment one.' + +She hath a nose like the edge of the burnished blade and cheeks like +purple wine or anemones blood-red: her lips as coral and carnelian +shine and the water of her mouth is sweeter than old wine; its taste +would quench Hell's fiery pain. Her tongue is moved by wit of high +degree and ready repartee: her breast is a seduction to all that see it +(glory be to Him who fashioned it and finished it!); and joined thereto +are two upper arms smooth and rounded; even as saith of her the poet +Al-Walahán,[FN#245] + +'She hath wrists which, did her bangles not contain, * + Would run from out her sleeves in silvern rain.' + +She hath breasts like two globes of ivory, from whose brightness the +moons borrow light, and a stomach with little waves as it were a +figured cloth of the finest Egyptian linen made by the Copts, with +creases like folded scrolls, ending in a waist slender past all power +of imagination; based upon back parts like a hillock of blown sand, +that force her to sit when she would fief stand, and awaken her, when +she fain would sleep, even as saith of her and describeth her the poet, + +'She hath those hips conjoined by thread of waist, * + Hips that o'er me and her too tyrannise +My thoughts they daze whene'er I think of them, * + And weigh her down whene'er she would uprise.'[FN#246] + +And those back parts are upborne by thighs smooth and round and by a +calf like a column of pearl, and all this reposeth upon two feet, +narrow, slender and pointed like spear-blades,[FN#247] the handiwork +of the Protector and Requiter, I wonder how, of their littleness, they +can sustain what is above them. But I cut short my praises of her +charms fearing lest I be tedious."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Ifrit Dahnash +bin Shamhurish said to the Ifritah Maymunah, "Of a truth I cut short my +praises fearing lest I be tedious." Now when Maymunah heard the +description of that Princess and her beauty and loveliness, she stood +silent in astonishment; whereupon Dahnash resumed, "The father of this +fair maiden is a mighty King, a fierce knight, immersed night and day +in fray and fight; for whom death hath no fright and the escape of his +foe no dread, for that he is a tyrant masterful and a conqueror +irresistible, lord of troops and armies and continents and islands, and +cities and villages, and his name is King Ghayur, Lord of the Islands +and of the Seas and of the Seven Palaces. Now he loveth his daughter, +the young maiden whom I have described to thee, with dearest love and, +for affection of her, he hath heaped together the treasures of all the +kings and built her therewith seven palaces, each of a different +fashion; the first of crystal, the second of marble, the third of China +steel, the fourth of precious stones and gems of price, the fifth of +porcelain and many-hued onyxes and ring bezels, the sixth of silver and +the seventh of gold. And he hath filled the seven palaces with all +sorts of sumptuous furniture, rich silken carpets and hangings and +vessels of gold and silver and all manner of gear that kings require; +and hath bidden his daughter to abide in each by turns for a certain +season of the year; and her name is the Princess Budur.[FN#248] Now +when her beauty became known and her name and fame were bruited abroad +in the neighbouring countries, all the kings sent to her father to +demand her of him in marriage, and he consulted her on the matter, but +she disliked the very word wedlock with a manner of abhorrence and +said, O my father, I have no mind to marry; no, not at all; for I am a +sovereign Lady and a Queen suzerain ruling over men, and I have no +desire for a man who shall rule over me. And the more suits she +refused, the more her suitors' eagerness increased and all the +Royalties of the Inner Islands of China sent presents and rarities to +her father with letters asking her in marriage. So he pressed her again +and again with advice on the matter of espousals; but she ever opposed +to him refusals, till at last she turned upon him angrily and cried, 'O +my father, if thou name matrimony to me once more, I will go into my +chamber and take a sword and, fixing its hilt in the ground, will set +its point to my waist; then will I press upon it, till it come forth +from my back, and so slay myself.' Now when the King heard these her +words, the light became darkness in his sight and his heart burned for +her as with a flame of fire, because he feared lest she should kill +herself; and he was filled with perplexity concerning her affair and +the kings her suitors. So he said to her 'If thou be determined not to +marry and there be no help for it abstain from going and coming in and +out.' Then he placed her in a house and shut her up in a chamber, +appointing ten old women as duennas to guard her, and forbade her to go +forth to the Seven Palaces; moreover, he made it appear that he was +incensed against her, and sent letters to all the kings, giving them to +know that she had been stricken with madness by the Jinns; and it is +now a year since she hath thus been secluded." Then continued the Ifrit +Dahnash, addressing the Ifritah Maymunah, "And I, O my lady go to her +every night and take my fill of feeding my sight on her face and I kiss +her between the eyes: yet, of my love to her, I do her no hurt neither +mount her, for that her youth is fair and her grace surpassing: every +one who seeth her jealouseth himself for her. I conjure thee, +therefore, O my lady, to go back with me and look on her beauty and +loveliness and stature and perfection of proportion; and after, if thou +wilt, chastise me or enslave me; and win to thy will, for it is shine +to bid and to forbid." So saying, the Ifrit Dahnash bowed his head +towards the earth and drooped his wings downward; but Maymunah laughed +at his words and spat in his face and answered, "What is this girl of +whom thou pratest but a potsherd wherewith to wipe after making +water?[FN#249] Faugh! Faugh! By Allah, O accursed, I thought thou +hadst some wondrous tale to tell me or some marvellous news to give me. +How would it be if thou were to sight my beloved? Verily, this night I +have seen a young man, whom if thou saw though but in a dream, thou +wouldst be palsied with admiration and spittle would flow from thy +mouth." Asked the Ifrit, "And who and what is this youth?"; and she +answered, "Know, O Dahnash, that there hath befallen the young man the +like of what thou tellest me befel thy mistress; for his father pressed +him again and again to marry, but he refused, till at length his sire +waxed wroth at being opposed and imprisoned him in the tower where I +dwell: and I came up to-night and saw him." Said Dahnash, "O my lady, +shew me this youth, that I may see if he be indeed handsomer than my +mistress, the Princess Budur, or not; for I cannot believe that the +like of her liveth in this our age." Rejoined Maymunah, "Thou liest, O +accursed, O most ill-omened of Marids and vilest of Satans![FN#250] +Sure am I that the like of my beloved is not in this world."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When It was the One Hundred and Eightieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Ifritah +Maymunah spake thus to the Ifrit Dahnash, "Sure am I that the like of +my beloved is not in this world! Art thou mad to fellow thy beloved +with my beloved?" He said, "Allah upon thee, O my lady, go back with me +and look upon my mistress, and after I will with thee and look upon thy +beloved." She answered, "It must needs be so, O accursed, for thou art +a knavish devil; but I will not go with thee nor shalt thou come with +me, save upon condition of a wager which is this. If the lover thou +lovest and of whom thou boastest so bravely, prove handsomer than mine +whom I mentioned and whom I love and of whom I boast, the bet shall be +shine against me; but if my beloved prove the handsomer the bet shall +be mine against thee." Quoth Dahnash the Ifrit, "O my lady, I accept +this thy wager and am satisfied thereat; so come with me to the +Islands." Quoth Maymunah; "No! for the abode of my beloved is nearer +than the abode of shine: here it is under us; so come down with me to +see my beloved and after we will go look upon thy mistress." "I hear +and I obey," said Dahnash. So they descended to earth and alighted in +the saloon which the tower contained; then Maymunah stationed Dahnash +beside the bed and, putting out her hand, drew back the silken coverlet +from Kamar al-Zaman's face, when it glittered and glistened and +shimmered and shone like the rising sun. She gazed at him for a moment, +then turning sharply round upon Dahnash said, "Look, O accursed, and be +not the basest of madmen; I am a maid, yet my heart he hath waylaid." +So Dahnash looked at the Prince and long continued gazing steadfastly +on him then, shaking his head, said to Maymunah, "By Allah, O my lady, +thou art excusable; but there is yet another thing to be considered, +and this is, that the estate female differeth from the male. By Allah's +might, this thy beloved is the likest of all created things to my +mistress in beauty and loveliness and grace and perfection; and it is +as though they were both cast alike in the mould of seemlihead." Now +when Maymunah heard these words, the light became darkness in her sight +and she dealt him with her wing so fierce a buffet on the head as +well-nigh made an end of him. Then quoth she to him, "I conjure thee, +by the light of his glorious countenance, go at once, O accursed, and +bring hither thy mistress whom thou lovest so fondly and foolishly, and +return in haste that we may lay the twain together and look on them +both as they lie asleep side by side; so shall it appear to us which be +the goodlier and more beautiful of the two. Except thou obey me this +very moment, O accursed, I will dart my sparks at thee with my fire and +consume thee; yea, in pieces I will rend thee and into the deserts cast +thee, that to stay at home and wayfarer an example thou be!" Quoth +Dahnash, "O my lady, I will do thy behests, for I know forsure that my +mistress is the fairer and the sweeter." So saying the If rit flew away +and Maymunah flew with him to guard him. They were absent awhile and +presently returned, bearing the young lady, who was clad in a shift of +fine Venetian silk, with a double edging of gold and purfled with the +most exquisite of embroidery having these couplets worked upon the ends +of the sleeves, + +"Three matters hinder her from visiting us, in fear * + Of hate-full, slandering envier and his hired spies: +The shining light of brow, the trinkets' tinkling voice, * + And scent of essences that tell whene'er she tries: +Gi'en that she hide her brow with edge of sleeve, and leave * + At home her trinketry, how shall her scent + disguise?''[FN#251] + +And Dahnash and Maymunah stinted not bearing that young lady till they +had carried her into the saloon and had laid her beside the youth Kamar +al-Zaman.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Eighty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Ifrit Dahnash +and the Ifritah Maymunah stinted not bearing Princess Budur till they +descended and laid her on the couch beside Kamar al- Zaman. Then they +uncovered both their faces, and they were the likest of all folk, each +to other, as they were twins or an only brother and sister; and indeed +they were a seduction to the pious, even as saith of them the poet +Al-Mubín, + +"O heart! be not thy love confined to one, * + Lest thou by doting or disdain be undone: +Love all the fair, and thou shalt find with them * + If this be lost, to thee that shall be won." + +And quoth another, + +"Mine eyes beheld two lying on the ground; * + Both had I loved if on these eyne they lay!" + +So Dahnash and Maymunah gazed on them awhile, and he said, "By Allah, O +my lady, it is good! My mistress is assuredly the fairer." She replied, +"Not so, my beloved is the fairer; woe to thee, O Dahnash! Art blind of +eye and heart that lean from fat thou canst not depart? Wilt thou hide +the truth? Dost thou not see his beauty and loveliness and fine stature +and symmetry? Out on thee, hear what I purpose to say in praise of my +beloved and, if thou be a lover true to her thou dost love, do thou the +like for her thou Lovest." Then she kissed Kamar al-Zaman again and +again between the eyes and improvised this ode, + +"How is this? Why should the blamer abuse thee in his pride? +What shall console my heart for thee, that art but slender bough? + +A Nature Kohl'd[FN#252] eye thou hast that witcheth far and wide; +From pure platonic love[FN#253] of it deliverance none I trow! + +Those glances, fell as plundering Turk, to heart such havoc deal +As never havocked scymitar made keenest at the curve. + +On me thou layest load of love the heaviest while I feel +So feeble grown that under weight of chemisette I swerve. + +My love for thee as wottest well is habit, and my lowe +Is nature; to all others false is all the love I tender: + +Now were my heart but like to shine I never would say No; +Only my wasted form is like thy waist so gracious slender: + +Out on him who in Beauty's robe for moon like charms hath fame, +And who is claimed by mouth of men as marvel of his tribe! + +'Of man what manner may he be' (ask they who flyte and blame) +'For whom thy heart is so distressed?' I only cry 'Describe!' + +Oh stone-entempered heart of him! learn of his yielding grace +And bending form to show me grace and yielding to consent. + +Oh my Prince Beautiful, thou hast an Overseer in place[FN#254] +Who irketh me, and eke a Groom whose wrong cloth ne'er relent. + +Indeed he lieth who hath said that all of loveliness +Was pent in Joseph: in thy charms there's many and many a Joe! + +The Genii dread me when I stand and face to face address; +But meeting thee my fluttering heart its shame and terror show. + +I take aversion semblance and I turn from thee in fright, +But more aversion I assume, more love from me dost claim; + +That hair of jetty black! That brow e'er raying radiant light! Those +eyne wherein white jostles black![FN#255] That dearling dainty frame!" + +When Dahnash heard the poesy which Maymunah spake in praise of her +beloved, he joyed with exceeding joy and marvelled with excessive +wonderment.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say + +When it was the One Hundred and Eighty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Ifrit +Dahnash heard the poesy which Maymunah spake in praise of her beloved, +he shook for exceeding joy and said, "Thou hast celebrated thy beloved +in song and thou hast indeed done well in praise of him whom thou +lovest! And there is no help for it but that I also in my turn do my +best to enfame my mistress, and recite somewhat in her honour." Then +the Ifrit went up to the Lady Budur; and' kissing her between the eyes, +looked at Maymunah and at his beloved Princess and recited the +following verses, albeit he had no skill in poesy, + +"Love for my fair they chide in angry way; * + Unjust for ignorance, yea unjustest they! +Ah lavish favours on the love mad, whom * + Taste of thy wrath and parting woe shall slay: +In sooth for love I'm wet with railing tears, * + That rail mine eyelids blood thou mightest say: +No marvel what I bear for love, 'tis marvel * + That any know my "me" while thou'rt away: +Unlawful were our union did I doubt * + Thy love, or heart incline to other May." + +And eke these words:— + +"I feed eyes on their stead by the valley's side, * + And I'm slain and my slaver[FN#256] aside hath tried: +Grief-wine have I drunken, and down my cheeks * + Dance tears to the song of the camel-guide: +For union-blessing I strive though sure, * + In Budur and Su'ad all my bliss shall bide:[FN#257] +Wot I not which of three gave me most to 'plain, * + So hear them numbered ere thou decide: +Those Sworders her eyne, that Lancer her fig- * + -ure, or ring-mail'd Locks which her forehead hide. +Quoth she (and I ask of her what so wights * + Or abide in towns or in desert ride[FN#258] ) +To me, 'In thy heart I dwell, look there!' * + Quoth I, 'Where's my heart ah where? ah where?'" + +When Maymunah heard these lines from the Ifrit, she said, "Thou hast +done well, O Dahnash! But say thou which of the two is the handsomer?" +And he answered, "My mistress Budur is handsomer than thy beloved!" +Cried Maymunah, "Thou liest, O accursed. Nay, my beloved is more +beautiful than shine!" But Dahnash persisted, "Mine is the fairer." And +they ceased not to wrangle and challenge each other's words till +Maymunah cried out at Dahnash and would have laid violent hands on him, +but he humbled himself to her and, softening his speech, said, "Let not +the truth be a grief to thee, and cease we this talk, for all we say is +to testify in favour of our lovers; rather let each of us withdraw the +claim and seek we one who shall judge fairly between us which of the +two be fairer; and by his sentence we will abide." "I agree to this," +answered she and smote the earth with her foot, whereupon there came +out of it an Ifrit blind of an eye, humpbacked and scurvy-skinned, with +eye-orbits slit up and down his face.[FN#259] On his head were seven +horns and four locks of hair fell to his heels; his hands were +pitchfork-like and his legs mast-like and he had nails as the claws of +a lion, and feet as the hoofs of the wild ass.[FN#260] When that If +rit rose out of the earth and sighted Maymunah, he kissed the ground +before her and, standing with his hands clasped behind him, said, "What +is thy will, O my mistress, O daughter of my King?"[FN#261] She +replied, "O Kashkash, I would have thee judge between me and this +accursed Dahnash." And she made known to him the matter, from first to +last, whereupon the Ifrit Kashkash looked at the face of the youth and +then at the face of the girl; and saw them lying asleep, embraced, each +with an arm under the other's neck, alike in beauty and loveliness and +equal in grace and goodliness. The Marid gazed long upon them, +marvelling at their seemlihead; and, after carefully observing the +twain, he turned to Maymunah and Dahnash, and reseated these couplets. + +"Go, visit her thou lovest, and regard not +The words detractors utter, envious churls +Can never favour love. Oh! sure the Merciful +Ne'er made a thing more fair to look upon, +Than two fond lovers in each others' arms, +Speaking their passion in a mute embrace. +When heart has turned to heart, the fools would part them +Strike idly on cold steel. So when thou'st found +One purely, wholly shine, accept her true heart, +And live for her alone. Oh! thou that blamest +The love-struck for their love, give o'er thy talk, +How canst thou minister to a mind diseased?"[FN#262] + +Then he turned again to Maymunah and Dahnash and said to them, "By +Allah, if you will have the truth, I tell you fairly the twain be equal +in beauty, and loveliness and perfect grace and goodliness, nor can I +make any difference between them on account of their being man and +woman. But I have another thought which is that we wake each of them in +turn, without the knowledge of the other, and whichever is the more +enamoured shall be held inferior in seemlihead and comeliness." Quoth +Maymunah, "Right is this recking," and quoth Dahnash, "I consent to +this." Then Dahnash changed himself to the form of a flea and bit Kamar +al-Zaman, whereupon he started from sleep in a fright.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Eighty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Dahnash changed +himself to the form of a flea and bit Kamar al-Zaman who started from +sleep in a fright and rubbed the bitten part, his neck, and scratched +it hard because of the smart. Then turning sideways, he found lying by +him something whose breath was sweeter than musk and whose skin was +softer than cream. Hereat marvelled he with great marvel and he sat up +and looked at what lay beside him; when he saw it to be a young lady +like an union pearl, or a shining sun, or a dome seen from afar on a +well built wall; for she was five feet tall, with a shape like the +letter Alif[FN#263], bosomed high and rosy checked; even as saith of +her the poet, + +"Four things which ne'er conjoin, unless it be * + To storm my vitals and to shed my blood: +Brow white as day and tresses black as night * + Cheeks rosy red and lips which smiles o'erflood." + +And also quoth another, + +"A Moon she rises, Willow wand she waves, * + Breathes Ambergris, and gazes, a Gazelle: +Meseems that sorrow woes my heart and wins * + And, when she wendeth hastes therein to dwell!" + +And when Kamar al-Zaman saw the Lady Budur, daughter of King Ghayur, +and her beauty and comeliness, she was sleeping clad in a shift of +Venetian silk, without her petticoat-trousers, and wore on her head a +kerchief embroidered with gold and set with stones of price: her ears +were hung with twin earrings which shone like constellations and round +her neck was a collar of union pearls, of size unique, past the +competence of any King. When he saw this, his reason was confounded and +natural heat began to stir in him; Allah awoke in him the desire of +coition and he said to himself, "Whatso Allah willeth, that shall be, +and what He willeth not shall never be!" So saying, he put out his hand +and, turning her over, loosed the collar of her chemise; then arose +before his sight her bosom, with its breasts like double globes of +ivory; whereat his inclination for her redoubled and he desired her +with exceeding hot desire, He would have awakened her but she would not +awake, for Dahnash had made her sleep heavy; so he shook her and moved +her, saying, "O my beloved, awake and look on me; I am Kamar al-Zaman." +But she awoke not, neither moved her head; where-upon he considered her +case for a long hour and said to himself, "If I guess aright, this is +the damsel to whom my father would have married me and these three +years past I have refused her; but Inshallah!—God willing—as soon as it +is dawn, I will say to him, 'Marry me to her, that I may enjoy +her.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al- Zaman +said to himself, "By Allah, when I see dawn I will say to my sire, +'Marry me to her that I may enjoy her'; nor will I let half the day +pass ere I possess her and take my fill of her beauty and loveliness." +Then he bent over Budur to buss her, whereat the Jinniyah Maymunah +trembled and was abashed and Dahnash, the Ifrit, was like to fly for +joy. But, as Kamar al- Zaman was about to kiss her upon the mouth, he +was ashamed before Allah and turned away his head and averted his face, +saying to his heart, "Have patience." Then he took thought awhile and +said, "I will be patient; haply my father when he was wroth with me and +sent me to this jail, may have brought my young lady and made her lie +by my side to try me with her, and may have charged her not to be +readily awakened when I would arouse her, and may have said to her, +'Whatever thing Kamar al-Zaman do to thee, make me ware thereof'; or +belike my sire standeth hidden in some stead whence (being himself +unseen) he can see all I do with this young lady; and to morrow he will +scold me and cry, 'How cometh it that thou sayest, I have no mind to +marry; and yet thou didst kiss and embrace yonder damsel?' So I will +withhold myself lest I be ashamed before my sire; and the right and +proper thing to do is not to touch her at this present, nor even to +look upon her, except to take from her somewhat which shall serve as a +token to me and a memorial of her; that some sign endure between me and +her." Then Kamar al-Zaman raised the young lady's hand and took from +her little finger a seal-ring worth an immense amount of money, for +that its bezel was a precious jewel and around it were graven these +couplets, + +"Count not that I your promises forgot, * + Despite the length of your delinquencies +Be generous, O my lord, to me inclining; * + Haply your mouth and cheeks these lips may kiss: +By Allah, ne'er will I relinquish you * + Albe you will transgress love's boundaries." + +Then Kamar al-Zaman took the seal-ring from the little finger of Queen +Budur and set it on his own; then, turning his back to her, went to +sleep.[FN#264] When Maymunah the Jinniyah saw this, she was glad and +said to Dahnash and Kashkash, "Saw ye how my beloved Kamar al-Zaman +bore himself chastely towards this young lady? Verily, this was of the +perfection of his good gifts; for observe you twain how he looked on +her and noted her beauty and loveliness, and yet embraced her not +neither kissed her nor put his hand to her, but turned his back and +slept." Answered they, "Even so!" Thereupon Maymunah changed herself +into a flea and entering into the raiment of Budur, the loved of +Dahnash, crept up her calf and came upon her thigh and, reaching a +place some four carats[FN#265] below her navel, there bit her. +Thereupon she opened her eyes and sitting up in bed, saw a youth lying +beside her and breathing heavily in his sleep, the loveliest of +Almighty Allah's creatures, with eyes that put to shame the fairest +Houris of Heaven; and a mouth like Solomon's seal, whose water was +sweeter to the taste and more efficacious than a theriack, and lips the +colour of coral-stone, and cheeks like the blood red anemone, even as +saith one, describing him in these couplets, + +"My mind's withdrawn from Zaynab and Nawár[FN#266] * + By rosy cheeks that growth of myrtle bear; +I love a fawn, a tunic-vested boy, * + And leave the love of bracelet-wearing Fair: +My mate in hall and closet is unlike * + Her that I play with, as at home we pair. +Oh thou, who blam'st my flight from Hind and Zaynab, * + The cause is clear as dawn uplighting air! +Would'st have me fare[FN#267] a slave, the thrall of thrall, * + Cribbed, pent, confined behind the bar and wall?" + +Now when Princess Budur saw him, she was seized by a transport of +passion and yearning and love-longing,—And Shahrazad per ceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Princess +Budur saw Kamar al-Zaman she was forthwith seized with a transport of +passion and yearning and love longing, and she said to herself, "Alas, +my shame! This is a strange youth and I know him not. How cometh he to +be lying by my side on one bed?" Then she looked at him a second time +and, noting his beauty and loveliness, said, "By Allah, he is indeed a +comely youth and my heart[FN#268] is well-nigh torn in sunder with +longing for him! But alas, how am I shamed by him! By the Almighty, had +I known it was this youth who sought me in marriage of my father, I had +not rejected him, but had wived with him and enjoyed his loveliness!" +Then she gazed in his face and said, "O my lord and light of mine eyes, +awake from sleep and take thy pleasure in my beauty and grace." And she +moved him with her hand; but Maymunah the Jinniyah let down sleep upon +him as it were a curtain, and pressed heavily on his head with her +wings so that Kamar al-Zaman awoke not. Then Princess Budur shook him +with her hands and said, "My life on thee, hearken to me; awake and up +from thy sleep and look on the narcissus and the tender down thereon, +and enjoy the sight of naked waist and navel; and touzle me and tumble +me from this moment till break of day! Allah upon thee, O my lord, sit +up and prop thee against the pillow and slumber not!" Still Kamar +al-Zaman made her no reply but breathed hard in his sleep. Continued +she, "Alas! Alas! thou art insolent in thy beauty and comeliness and +grace and loving looks! But if thou art handsome, so am I handsome; +what then is this thou dost? Have they taught thee to flout me or hath +my father, the wretched old fellow,[FN#269] made thee swear not to +speak to me to-night?" But Kamar al-Zaman opened not his mouth neither +awoke, whereat her passion for him redoubled and Allah inflamed her +heart with love of him. She stole one glance of eyes that cost her a +thousand sighs: her heart fluttered, and her vitals throbbed and her +hands and feet quivered; and she said to Kamar al-Zaman "Talk to me, O +my lord! Speak to me, O my friend! Answer me, O my beloved, and tell me +thy name, for indeed thou hast ravished my wit!" And during all this +time he abode drowned in sleep and answered her not a word, and +Princess Budur sighed and said, "Alas! Alas! why art thou so proud and +self satisfied?" Then she shook him and turning his hand over, saw her +seal-ring on his little finger, whereat she cried a loud cry, and +followed it with a sigh of passion and said, "Alack! Alack! By Allah, +thou art my beloved and thou lovest me! Yet thou seemest to turn thee +away from me out of coquetry, for all, O my darling, thou camest to me, +whilst I was asleep and knew not what thou didst with me, and tookest +my seal-ring; and yet I will not pull it off thy finger." So saying, +she opened the bosom of his shirt and bent over him and kissed him and +put forth her hand to him, seeking somewhat that she might take as a +token, but found nothing. Then she thrust her hand into his breast and, +because of the smoothness of his body, it slipped down to his waist and +thence to his navel and thence to his yard, whereupon her heart ached +and her vitals quivered and lust was sore upon her, for that the desire +of women is fiercer than the desire of men,[FN#270] and she was ashamed +of her own shamelessness. Then she plucked his seal-ring from his +finger, and put it on her own instead of the ring he had taken, and +bussed his inner lips and hands, nor did she leave any part of him +unkissed; after which she took him to her breast and embraced him and, +laying one of her hands under his neck and the other under his arm-pit, +nestled close to him and fell asleep by his side.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One hundred and Eighty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Princess +Budur fell asleep by the side of Kamar al-Zaman, after doing that which +she did, quoth Maymunah to Dahnash, Night thou, O accursed, how proudly +and coquettishly my beloved bore himself, and how hotly and +passionately thy mistress showed herself to my dearling? There can be +no doubt that my beloved is handsomer than shine; nevertheless I pardon +thee." Then she wrote him a document of manumission and turned to +Kashkash and said, "Go, help Dahnash to take up his mistress and aid +him to carry her back to her own place, for the night waneth apace and +there is but little left of it." "I hear and I obey;" answered +Kashkash. So the two Ifrits went forward to Princess Budur and +upraising her flew away with her; then, bearing her back to her own +place, they laid her on her bed, whilst Maymunah abode alone with Kamar +al-Zaman, gazing upon him as he slept, till the night was all but +spent, when she went her way. As soon as morning morrowed, the Prince +awoke from sleep and turned right and left, but found not the maiden by +him and said in his mind, "What is this business? It is as if my father +would incline me to marriage with the damsel who was with me and have +now taken her away by stealth, to the intent that my desire for wedlock +may redouble." Then he called out to the eunuch who slept at the door, +saying, "Woe to thee, O damned one, arise at once!" So the eunuch rose, +bemused with sleep, and brought him basin and ewer, whereupon Kamar +al-Zaman entered the water closet and did his need;[FN#271] then, +coming out made the Wuzu-ablution and prayed the dawn-prayer, after +which he sat telling on his beads the ninety-and-nine names of Almighty +Allah. Then he looked up and, seeing the eunuch standing in service +upon him, said, "Out on thee, O Sawáb! Who was it came hither and took +away the young lady from my side and I still sleeping?" Asked the +eunuch, 'O my lord, what manner of young lady?" "The young lady who lay +with me last night," replied Kamar al-Zaman. The eunuch was startled at +his words and said to him, "By Allah, there hath been with thee neither +young lady nor other! How should young lady have come in to thee, when +I was sleeping in the doorway and the door was locked? By Allah, O my +lord, neither male nor female hath come in to thee!" Exclaimed the +Prince, "Thou liest, O pestilent slave!: is it of thy competence also +to hoodwink me and refuse to tell me what is become of the young lady +who lay with me last night and decline to inform me who took her away?" +Replied the eunuch (and he was affrighted at him), "By Allah, O my +lord, I have seen neither young lady nor young lord!" His words only +angered Kamar al-Zaman the more and he said to him, "O accursed one, my +father hath indeed taught thee deceit! Come hither." So the eunuch came +up to him, and the Prince took him by the collar and dashed him to the +ground; whereupon he let fly a loud fart[FN#272] and Kamar al-Zaman, +kneeling upon him, kicked him and throttled him till he fainted away. +Then he dragged him forth and tied him to the well-rope, and let him +down like a bucket into the well and plunged him into the water, then +drew him up and lowered him down again. Now it was hard winter weather, +and Kamar al-Zaman ceased not to plunge the eunuch into the water and +pull him up again and douse him and haul him whilst he screamed and +called for help; and the Prince kept on saying "By Allah, O damned one, +I will not draw thee up out of this well till thou tell me and fully +acquaint me with the story of the young lady and who it was took her +away, whilst I slept."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One and Eighty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al- Zaman +said to the eunuch, "By Allah! I will not draw thee up out of this well +until thou tell me the story of the young lady and who it was took her +away whilst I slept." Answered the eunuch, after he had seen death +staring him in the face; "O my lord, let me go and I will relate to +thee the truth and the whole tale." So Kamar al-Zaman pulled him up out +of the well, all but dead for suffering, what with cold and the pain of +dipping and dousing, drubbing and dread of drowning. He shook like cane +in hurricane, his teeth were clenched as by cramp and his clothes were +drenched and his body befouled and torn by the rough sides of the well: +briefly he was in a sad pickle. Now when Kamar al-Zaman saw him in this +sorry plight, he was concerned for him; but, as soon as the eunuch +found himself on the floor, he said to him, "O my lord, let me go and +doff my clothes and wring them out and spread them in the sun to dry, +and don others; after which I will return to thee forthwith and tell +thee the truth of the matter." Answered the Prince, "O rascal slave! +hadst thou not seen death face to face, never hadst thou confessed to +fact nor told me a word; but go now and do thy will, and then come back +to me at once and tell me the truth." Thereupon the eunuch went out, +hardly crediting his escape, and ceased not running, stumbling and +rising in his haste, till he came in to King Shahriman, whom he found +sitting at talk with his Wazir of Kamar al-Zaman's case. The King was +saying to the Minister, "I slept not last night, for anxiety concerning +my son, Kamar al-Zaman and indeed I fear lest some harm befal him in +that old tower. What good was there in imprisoning him?" Answered the +Wazir, "Have no care for him. By Allah, no harm will befal him! None at +all! Leave him in prison for a month till his temper yield and his +spirit be broken and he return to his senses." As the two spoke behold, +up rushed the eunuch, in the aforesaid plight, making to the King who +was troubled at sight of him; and he cried "O our lord the Sultan! +Verily, thy son's wits are fled and he hath gone mad, he hath dealt +with me thus and thus, so that I am become as thou seest me, and he +kept saying, 'A young lady lay with me this night and stole away +secretly whilst I slept. Where is she?' And he insisteth on my letting +him know where she is and on my telling him who took her away. But I +have seen neither girl nor boy: the door was locked all through the +night, for I slept before it with the key under my head, and I opened +to him in the morning with my own hand. When King Shahriman heard this, +he cried out, saying, "Alas, my son!;" and he was enraged with sore +rage against the Wazir, who had been the cause of all this case and +said to him, "Go up, bring me news of my son and see what hath befallen +his mind." So the Wazir rose and, stumbling over his long skirts, in +his fear of the King's wrath, hastened with the slave to the tower. Now +the sun had risen and when the Minister came in to Kamar al-Zaman, he +found him sitting on the couch reciting the Koran; so he saluted him +and seated himself by his side, and said to him, "O my lord, this +wretched eunuch brought us tidings which troubled and alarmed us and +which incensed the King." Asked Kamar al-Zaman, "And what hath he told +you of me to trouble my father? In good sooth he hath troubled none but +me." Answered the Wazir, "He came to us in fulsome state and told us of +thee a thing which Heaven forfend; and the slave added a lie which it +befitteth not to repeat, Allah preserve thy youth and sound sense and +tongue of eloquence, and forbid to come from thee aught of offense!" +Quoth the Prince, "O Wazir, and what thing did this pestilent slave say +of me?" The Minister replied, "He told us that thy wits had taken leave +of thee and thou wouldst have it that a young lady lay with thee last +night, and thou west instant with him to tell thee whither she went and +thou diddest torture him to that end." But when Kamar al-Zaman heard +these words, he was enraged with sore rage and he said to the Wazir, +"'Tis manifest to me in very deed that you people taught the eunuch to +do as he did."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her per misted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kamar +al-Zaman heard the words of the Wazir he was enraged with sore rage and +said to him, "'Tis manifest to me in very deed that you people taught +the eunuch to do as he did and forbade him to tell me what became of +the young lady who lay with me last night. But thou, O Wazir, art +cleverer than the eunuch, so do thou tell me without stay or delay, +whither went the young lady who slept on my bosom last night; for it +was you who sent her and bade her steep in my embrace and we lay +together till dawn; but, when I awoke, I found her not. So where is she +now?" Said the Wazir, "O my lord Kamar al-Zaman, Allah's name encompass +thee about! By the Almighty, we sent none to thee last night, but thou +layest alone, with the door locked on thee and the eunuch sleeping +behind it, nor did there come to thee young lady or any other. Regain +thy reason, O my lord, and stablish thy senses and occupy not thy mind +with vanities." Rejoined Kamar al-Zaman who was incensed at his words, +"O Wazir, the young lady in question is my beloved, the fair one with +the black eyes and rosy cheeks, whom I held in my arms all last night." +So the Minister wondered at his words and asked him, "Didst thou see +this damsel last night with shine own eyes on wake or in sleep?" +Answered Kamar al-Zaman, "O ill- omened old man, dost thou fancy I saw +her with my ears? Indeed, I saw her with my very eyes and awake, and I +touched her with my hand, and I watched by her full half the night, +feeding my vision on her beauty and loveliness and grace and tempting +looks. But you had schooled her and charged her to speak no word to me; +so she feigned sleep and I lay by her side till dawn, when I awoke and +found her gone." Rejoined the Wazir, "O my lord Kamar al- Zaman, haply +thou sawest this in thy sleep; it must have been a delusion of dreams +or a deception caused by eating various kinds of food, or a suggestion +of the accursed devils." Cried the Prince, "O pestilent old man! wilt +thou too make a mock of me and tell me this was haply a delusion of +dreams, when that eunuch confessed to the young lady, saying, 'At once +I will return to thee and tell thee all about her?'" With these words, +he sprang up and rushed at the Wazir and gripped hold of his beard +(which was long[FN#273]) and, after gripping it, he twisted his hand in +it and haling him off the couch, threw him on the floor. It seemed to +the Minister as though his soul departed his body for the violent +plucking at his beard; and Kamar al-Zaman ceased not kicking the Wazir +and basting his breast and ribs and cuffing him with open hand on the +nape of his neck till he had well-nigh beaten him to death. Then said +the old man in his mind, "Just as the eunuch-slave saved his life from +this lunatic youth by telling him a lie, thus it is even fitter that I +do likewise; else he will destroy me. So now for my lie to save myself, +he being mad beyond a doubt." Then he turned to Kamar al-Zaman and +said, "O my lord, pardon me; for indeed thy father charged me to +conceal from thee this affair of the young lady; but now I am weak and +weary and wounded with funding; for I am an old man and lack strength +and bottom to endure blows. Have, therefore, a little patience with me +and I will tell thee all and acquaint thee with the story of the young +woman." When the Prince heard this, he left off drubbing him and said, +"Wherefore couldst thou not tell me the tale until after shame and +blows? Rise now, unlucky old man that thou art, and tell me her story." +Quoth the Wazir, "Say, dost thou ask of the young lady with the fair +face and perfect form?" Quoth Kamar al-Zaman, "Even so! Tell me, O +Wazir, who it was that led her to me and laid her by my side, and who +was it that took her away from me by night; and let me know forthright +whither she is gone, that I myself may go to her at once. If my father +did this deed to me that he might try me by means of that beautiful +girl, with a view to our marriage, I consent to wed her and free myself +of this trouble; for he did all these dealings with me only because I +refused wedlock. But now I consent and I say again, I consent to +matrimony: so tell this to my father, O Wazir, and advise him to marry +me to that young lady; for I will have none other and my heart loveth +none save her alone. Now rise up at once and haste thee to my father +and counsel him to hurry on our wedding and bring me his answer within +this very hour." Rejoined the Wazir, "'Tis well!" and went forth from +him, hardly believing himself out of his hands. Then he set off from +the tower, walking and tripping up as he went, for excess of fright and +agitation, and he ceased not hurrying till he came in to King +Shahriman.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Eighty-nineth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir, fared +forth from the tower, and ceased not running till he came in to King +Shahriman, who said to him as he sighted him, "O thou Wazir, what man +hath brought thee to grief and whose mischief hath treated thee in way +unlief; how happeneth it that I see thee dumb foundered and coming to +me thus astounded?" Replied the Wazir, "O King! I bring thee good +news." "And what is it?" quoth Shahriman, and quoth the Wazir, "Know +that thy son Kamar al- Zaman's wits are clean gone and that he hath +become stark mad." Now when the King heard these words of the Minister, +light became darkness in his sight and he said, "O Wazir, make clear to +me the nature of his madness." Answered the Wazir, "O my lord, I hear +and I obey." Then he told him that such and such had passed and +acquainted him with all that his son had done; whereupon the King said +to him, "Hear, O Wazir, the good tidings which I give thee in return +for this thy fair news of my son's insanity; and it shall be the +cutting off of thy head and the forfeiture of my favour, O most +ill-omened of Wazirs and foulest of Emirs! for I feel that thou hast +caused my son's disorder by the wicked advice and the sinister counsel +thou hast given me first and last. By Allah, if aught of mischief or +madness have befallen my son I will most assuredly nail thee upon the +palace dome and make thee drain the bitterest draught of death!'' Then +he sprang up and, taking the Wazir, with him, fared straight for the +tower and entered it. And when Kamar al-Zaman saw the two, he rose to +his father in haste from the couch whereon he sat and kissing his hands +drew back and hung down his head and stood before him with his arms +behind him, and thus remained for a full hour. Then he raised his head +towards his sire; the tears gushed from his eyes and streamed down his +cheeks and he began repeating, + +"Forgive the sin 'neath which my limbs are trembling, +For the slave seeks for mercy from his master; +I've done a fault, which calls for free confession, +Where shall it call for mercy, and forgiveness?''[FN#274] + +When the King heard this, he arose and embraced his son, and kissing +him between the eyes, made him sit by his side on the couch; then he +turned to the Wazir, and, looking on him with eyes of wrath, said, "O +dog of Wazirs, how didst thou say of my son such and such things and +make my heart quake for him?" Then he turned to the Prince and said, "O +my son, what is to-day called?" He answered, "O my father, this day is +the Sabbath, and to morrow is First day: then come Second day, Third, +Fourth, Fifth day and lastly Friday."[FN#275] Exclaimed the King, "O my +son, O Kamar al-Zaman, praised be Allah for the preservation of thy +reason! What is the present month called in our Arabic?" "Zú'l +Ka'adah," answered Kamar al-Zaman, "and it is followed by Zú'l hijjah; +then cometh Muharram, then Safar, then Rabí'a the First and Rabí'a the +Second, the two Jamádás, Rajab, Sha'aban, Ramazán and Shawwál." At this +the King rejoiced exceedingly and spat in the Wazir's face, saying, "O +wicked old man, how canst thou say that my son is mad? And now none is +mad but thou." Hereupon the Minister shook his head and would have +spoken, but bethought himself to wait awhile and see what might next +befal. Then the King said to his child, "O my son, what words be these +thou saddest to the eunuch and the Wazir, declaring, 'I was sleeping +with a fair damsel this night?'[FN#276] What damsel is this of whom +thou speakest?" Then Kamar al-Zaman laughed at his father's words and +replied, "O my father, know that I can bear no more jesting; so add me +not another mock or even a single word on the matter, for my temper +hath waxed short by that you have done with me. And know, O my father, +with assured knowledge, that I consent to marry, but on condition that +thou give me to wife her who lay by my side this night; for I am +certain it was thou sentest her to me and madest me in love with her +and then despatchedst a message to her before the dawn and tookest her +away from beside me." Rejoined the King, "The name of Allah encompass +thee about, O my son, and be thy wit preserved from witlessness!"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninetieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth King +Shahriman to his son Kamar al-Zaman, "The name of Allah encompass thee +about, O my son, and be thy wit preserved from witlessness! What thing +be this young lady whom thou fanciest I sent to thee last night and +then again that I sent to withdraw her from thee before dawn? By the +Lord, O my son, I know nothing of this affair, and Allah upon thee, +tell me if it be a delusion of dreaming or a deception caused by +indisposition. For verily thou layest down to sleep last night with thy +mind occupied anent marriage and troubled with the talk of it (Allah +damn marriage and the hour when I spake of it and curse him who +counselled it!); and without doubt or diffidence I can say that being +moved in mind by the mention of wedlock thou dreamedst that a handsome +young lady embraced thee and didst fancy thou sawest her when awake. +But all this, O my son, is but an imbroglio of dreams." Replied Kamar +al-Zaman, "Leave this talk and swear to me by Allah, the All creator, +the Omniscient; the Humbler of the tyrant Caesars and the Destroyer of +the Chosroes, that thou knowest naught of the young lady nor of her +woning-place." Quoth the King, "By the Might of Allah Almighty, the God +of Moses and Abraham, I know naught of all this and never even heard of +it; it is assuredly a delusion of dreams thou hast seen in sleep.' Then +the Prince replied to his sire, "I will give thee a self evident proof +that it happened to me when on wake."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninety-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al Zamar +said to his sire, "I will give thee a self-evident proof that this +happened to me when on wake. Now let me ask thee, did it ever befal any +man to dream that he was battling a sore battle and after to awake from +sleep and find in his hand a sword-blade besmeared with blood? Answered +the King, "No, by Allah, O my son, this hath never been." Rejoined +Kamar al-Zaman, "I will tell thee what happened to me and it was this. +Meseemed I awoke from sleep in the middle of the past night and found a +girl lying by my side, whose form was like mine and whose favour was as +mine. I embraced her and turned her about with my hand and took her +seal- ring, which I put on my finger, and she pulled off my ring and +put it on hers. Then I went to sleep by her side, but refrained from +her for shame of thee, deeming that thou hadst sent her to me, +intending to tempt me with her and incline me to marriage, and +suspecting thee to be hidden somewhere whence thou couldst see what I +did with her. And I was ashamed even to kiss her on the mouth for thy +account, thinking over this temptation to wedlock; and, when I awoke at +point of day, I found no trace of her, nor could I come at any news of +her, and there befel me what thou knowest of with the eunuch and with +the Wazir. How then can this case have been a dream and a delusion, +when the ring is a reality? Save for her ring on my finger I should +indeed have deemed it a dream; but here is the ring on my little +finger: look at it, O King, and see what is its worth." So saying he +handed the ring to his father, who examined it and turned it over, then +looked to his son and said, "Verily, there is in this ring some mighty +mystery and some strange secret. What befel thee last night with the +girl is indeed a hard nut to crack, and I know not how intruded upon us +this intruder. None is the cause of all this posher save the Wazir; +but, Allah upon thee, O my son, take patience, so haply the Lord may +turn to gladness this thy grief and to thy sadness bring complete +relief: as quoth one of the poets, + +'Haply shall Fortune draw her rein, and bring * + Fair chance, for she is changeful, jealous, vain: +Still I may woo my want and wishes win, * + And see on heels of care unfair, the fain.' + +And now, O my son, I am certified at this hour that thou art not mad; +but thy case is a strange one which none can clear up for thee save the +Almighty." Cried the Prince, "By Allah, O my father, deal kindly with +me and seek out this young lady and hasten her coming to me; else I +shall die of woe and of my death shall no one know." Then he betrayed +the ardour of his passion; and turned towards his father and repeated +these two couplets, + +"If your promise of personal call prove untrue, * + Deign in vision to grant me an interview: +Quoth they, 'How can phantom[FN#277] appear to the sight * + Of a youth, whose sight is fordone, perdue?'" + +Then, after ending his poetry, Kamar al-Zaman again turned to his +father, with submission and despondency, and shedding tears in flood, +began repeating these lines.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninety-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kamar +al-Zaman had repeated to his father these verses, he wept and +complained and groaned from a wounded heart; and added these lines, + +"Beware that eye glance which hath magic might; * + Wherever turn those orbs it bars our flight: +Nor be deceived by low sweet voice, that breeds * + A fever festering in the heart and sprite: +So soft that silky skin, were rose to touch it * + She'd cry and tear-drops rain for pain and fright: +Did Zephyr e'en in sleep pass o'er her land, * + Scented he'd choose to dwell in scented site: +Her necklets vie with tinkling of her belt; * + Her wrists strike either wristlet dumb with spite: +When would her bangles buss those rings in ear, * + Upon the lover's eyne high mysteries 'light: +I'm blamed for love of her, nor pardon claim; * + Eyes are not profiting which lack foresight: +Heaven strip thee, blamer mine! unjust art thou; * + Before this fawn must every eye low bow."[FN#278] + +After which he said, "By Allah, O my father, I cannot endure to be +parted from her even for an hour." The King smote hand upon hand and +exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, +the Glorious, the Great! No cunning contrivance can profit us in this +affair." Then he took his son by the hand and carried him to the +palace, where Kamar al-Zaman lay down on the bed of languor and the +King sat at his head, weeping and mourning over him and leaving him +not, night or day, till at last the Wazir came in to him and said, "O +King of the age and the time, how long wilt thou remain shut up with +thy son and hide thyself from thy troops. Haply, the order of thy realm +may be deranged, by reason of shine absence from thy Grandees and +Officers of State. It behoveth the man of understanding, if he have +various wounds in his body, to apply him first to medicine the most +dangerous; so it is my counsel to thee that thou remove thy son from +this place to the pavilion which is in the palace overlooking the sea; +and shut thyself up with him there, setting apart in every week two +days, Thursday and Monday, for state receptions and progresses and +reviews. On these days let shine Emirs and Wazirs and Chamberlains and +Viceroys and high Officials and Grandees of the realm and the rest of +the levies and the lieges have access to thee and submit their affairs +to thee; and do thou their needs and judge among them and give and take +with them and bid and forbid. And the rest of the week thou shalt pass +with thy son, Kamar al-Zaman, and cease not thus doing till Allah shall +vouchsafe relief to you twain. Think not, O King, that thou art safe +from the shifts of Time and the strokes of Change which come like a +traveller in the night; for the wise man is ever on his guard and how +well saith the poet, + +'Thou deemedst well of Time when days went well, * + And fearedst not what ills might bring thee Fate: +The Nights so fair and restful cozened thee, * + For peaceful Nights bring woes of heavy weight. +Oh children of mankind whom Time befriends, * + Beware of Time's deceits or soon or late!'''[FN#279] + +When the Sultan heard his Wazir's words he saw that they were right and +deemed his counsel wise, and it had effect upon him for he feared lest +the order of the state be deranged; so he rose at once and bade +transport his son from his sick room to the pavilion in the palace +overlooking the sea. Now this palace was girt round by the waters and +was approached by a causeway twenty cubits wide. It had windows on all +sides commanding an ocean- view; its floor was paved with +parti-coloured marbles and its ceiling was painted in the richest +pigments and figured with gold and lapis-lazuli. They furnished it for +Kamar al-Zaman with splendid upholstery, embroidered rugs and carpets +of the richest silk; and they clothed the walls with choice brocades +and hung curtains bespangled with gems of price. In the midst they set +him a couch of juniper[FN#280]-wood inlaid with pearls and jewels, and +Kamar al-Zaman sat down thereon, but the excess of his concern and +passion for the young lady had wasted his charms and emaciated his +body; he could neither eat nor drink nor sleep; and he was like a man +who had been sick twenty years of sore sickness. His father seated +himself at his head, grieving for him with the deepest grief, and every +Monday and Thursday he gave his Wazirs and Emirs and Chamberlains and +Viceroys and Lords of the realm and levies and the rest of his lieges +leave to come up to him in that pavilion. So they entered and did their +several service and duties and abode with him till the end of the day, +when they went their ways and the King returned to his son in the +pavilion whom he left not night nor day; and he ceased not doing on +this wise for many days and nights. Such was the case with Kamar +al-Zaman, son of King Shahriman; but as regards Princess Budur, +daughter of King Ghayur, Lord of the Isles and the Seven Palaces, when +the two Jinns bore her up and laid her on her bed, she slept till +daybreak, when she awoke and sitting upright looked right and left, but +saw not the youth who had lain in her bosom. At this her vitals +fluttered, her reason fled and she shrieked a loud shriek which awoke +all her slave girls and nurses and duennas. They flocked in to her; and +the chief of them came forward and asked, "What aileth thee, O my +lady?" Answered the Princess, "O wretched old woman, where is my +beloved, the handsome youth who lay last night in my bosom? Tell me +whither he is gone." Now when the duenna heard this, the light +starkened in her sight and she feared from her mischief with sore +affright, and said to her, "O my Lady Budur, what unseemly words are +these?" Cried the Princess, "Woe to thee pestilent crone that thou art! +I ask thee again where is my beloved, the goodly youth with the shining +face and the slender form, the jetty eyes and the joined eyebrows, who +lay with me last night from supper-tide until near daybreak?" She +rejoined "By Allah, O my lady, I have seen no young man nor any other. +I conjure thee, carry not this unseemly jest too far lest we all lose +our lives; for perhaps the joke may come to thy father's ears and who +shall then deliver us from his hand?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninety-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the duenna +bespake the Lady Budur in these words, "Allah upon thee, O my lady! +carry not this unseemly jest too far; for perhaps it may come to thy +father's ears, and who shall then deliver us from his hand?" The +Princess rejoined, "In very sooth a youth lay with me last night, one +of the fairest-faced of men." Exclaimed the duenna, "Heaven preserve +thy reason! indeed no one lay with thee last night." Thereupon the +Princess looked at her hand and, finding Kamar al-Zaman's seal-ring on +her finger in stead of her own, said to her, "Woe to thee, thou +accursed! thou traitress! wilt thou lie to me and tell me that none lay +with me last night and swear to me a falsehood in the name of the +Lord?" Replied the duenna, "By Allah, I do not lie to thee nor have I +sworn falsely." Then the Princess was incensed by her words and, +drawing a sword she had by her, she smote the old woman with it and +slew her;[FN#281] whereupon the eunuch and the waiting-women and the +concubines cried out at her, and ran to her father and, without stay or +delay, acquainted him with her case. So the King went to her, and asked +her, "O my daughter, what aileth thee?"; and she answered, "O my +father, where is the youth who lay with me last night?" Then her reason +fled from her head and she cast her eyes right and left and rent her +raiment even to the skirt. When her sire saw this, he bade the women +lay hands on her; so they seized her and manacled her, then putting a +chain of iron about her neck, made her fast to one of the +palace-windows and there left her.[FN#282] Thus far concerning Princess +Budur; but as regards her father, King Ghayur, the world was straitened +upon him when he saw what had befallen his daughter, for that he loved +her and her case was not a little grievous to him. So he summoned on it +the doctors and astrologers and men skilled in talisman- writing and +said to them, "Whoso healeth my daughter of what ill she hath, I will +marry him to her and give him half of my kingdom; but whoso cometh to +her and cureth her not, I will strike off his head and hang it over her +palace-gate." Accordingly, all who went in to her, but failed to heal +her, he beheaded and hung their heads over the palace-gates, till he +had beheaded on her account forty doctors and crucified forty +astrologers; wherefor the general held aloof from her, all the +physicians having failed to medicine her malady; and her case was a +puzzle to the men of science and the adepts in cabalistic characters. +And as her longing and passion redoubled and love and distraction were +sore upon her, she poured forth tears and repeated these couplets, + +"My fondness, O my moon, for thee my foeman is, * + And to thy comradeship the nights my thought compel: +In gloom I bide with fire that flames below my ribs, * + Whose lowe I make comparison with heat of Hell: +I'm plagued with sorest stress of pine and ecstasy; * + Nor clearest noon tide can that horrid pain dispel." + +Then she sighed and repeated these also, + +"Salams fro' me to friends in every stead; * + Indeed to all dear friends do I incline: +Salams, but not salams that bid adieu; * + Salams that growth of good for you design: +I love you dear, indeed, nor less your land, * + But bide I far from every need of mine!" + +And when the Lady Budur ceased repeating her poetry, she wept till her +eyes waxed sore and her cheeks changed form and hue, and in this +condition she continued three years. Now she had a foster-brother, by +name Marzawán,[FN#283] who was travelling in far lands and absent from +her the whole of this time. He loved her with an exceeding love, +passing the love of brothers; so when he came back he went in to his +mother and asked for his sister, the Princess Budur. She answered him, +"O my son, thy sister hath been smitten with madness and hath passed +these three years with a chain of iron about her neck; and all the +physicians and men of science have failed of healing her." When +Marzawan heard these words he said, "I must needs go in to her; +peradventure I may discover what she hath, and be able to medicine +her;" and his mother replied, "Needs must thou visit her, but wait till +to morrow, that I may contrive some thing to suit thy case." Then she +went a-foot to the palace of the Lady Budur and, accosting the eunuch +in charge of the gates, made him a present and said to him, "I have a +daughter, who was brought up with thy mistress and since then I married +her; and, when that befel the Princess which befel her, she became +troubled and sore concerned, and I desire of thy favour that my +daughter may go in to her for an hour and look on her; and then return +whence she came, so shall none know of it." Quoth the eunuch, "This may +not be except by night, after the King hath visited his child and gone +away; then come thou and thy daughter." So she kissed the eunuch's hand +and, returning home, waited till the morrow at nightfall; and when it +was time she arose and sought her son Marzawan and attired him in +woman's apparel; then, taking his hand in hers, led him towards the +palace, and ceased not walking with him till she came upon the eunuch +after the Sultan had ended his visit to the Princess. Now when the +eunuch saw her, he rose to her, and said, "Enter, but do not prolong +thy stay!" So they went in and when Marzawan beheld the Lady Budur in +the aforesaid plight, he saluted her, after his mother had doffed his +woman's garb: then he took out of their satchel books he had brought +with him; and, lighting a wax- candle, he began to recite certain +conjurations Thereupon the Princess looked at him and recognising him, +said, "O my brother, thou hast been absent on thy travels' and thy news +have been cut off from us." He replied, "True! but Allah hath brought +me back safe and sound, I am now minded to set out again nor hath aught +delayed me but the news I hear of thee; wherefore my heart burned for +thee and I came to thee, so haply I may free thee of thy malady." She +rejoined, O my brother, thinkest thou it is madness aileth me?" "Yes." +answered he, and she said, "Not so, by Allah! 'tis even as saith the +poet, + +'Quoth they 'Thou rav'st on him thou lov'st': quoth I, * + 'The sweets of love are only for th' insane!' +Love never maketh Time his friend befriend; * + Only the Jinn-struck wight such boon can gain: +Well! yes, I'm mad: bring him who madded me * + And, if he cure m: madness, blame restrain!'" + +Then she let Marzawan know that she was love-daft and he said "Tell me +concerning thy tale and what befel thee: haply there may be in my hand +something which shall be a means of deliverance for thee."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of da, and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Marzawar thus +addressed Princess Budur, "Tell me concerning thy tale and what befel +thee: haply Allah may inspire me with a means of deliverance for thee." +Quoth she, "O my brother, hear my story which is this. One night I +awoke from sleep, in the last third of the night[FN#284] and, sitting +up, saw by my side the handsomest of youths that be, and tongue faileth +to describe him, for he was as a willow-wand or an Indian rattan-cane. +So methought it was my father who had done on this wise in order +thereby to try me, for that he had consulted me concerning wedlock, +when the Kings sought me of him to wife, and I had refused. It was this +though withheld me from arousing him, for I feared that, if I did aught +of embraced him, he would peradventure inform my father of m, doings. +But in the morning, I found on my finger his seal-ring, in place of my +own which he had taken. And, O my brother, m, heart was seized with +love of him at first sight; and, for the violence of my passion and +longing, I have never savoured the taste of sleep and have no +occupation save weeping alway and repeating verses night and day. And +this, O my brother, is my story and the cause of my madness." Then she +poured forth tears and repeated these couplets, + +"Now Love hast banished all that bred delight; * + With that heart-nibbling fawn my joys took flight: +Lightest of trifles lover's blood to him * + Who wastes the vitals of the hapless wight! +For him I'm jealous of my sight and thought; * + My heart acts spy upon my thought and sight: +Those long-lashed eyelids rain on me their shafts * + Guileful, destroying hearts where'er they light: +Now, while my portion in the world endures, * + Shall I behold him ere I quit world-site? +What bear I for his sake I'd hide, but tears * + Betray my feelings to the spy's despight. +When near, our union seemeth ever far; * + When far, my thoughts to him aye nearest are." + +And presently she continued, "See then, O my brother, how thou mayest +aid me in mine affliction." So Marzawan bowed his head ground-wards +awhile, wondering and not knowing what to do, then he raised it and +said to her, "All thou hast spoken to me I hold to be true, though the +case of the young man pass my understanding: but I will go round about +all lands and will seek for what may heal thee; haply Allah shall +appoint thy healing to be at my hand. Meanwhile, take patience and be +not disquieted." Thereupon Marzawan farewelled her, praying that she +might be constant and left her repeating these couplets, + +"Thine image ever companies my sprite, * + For all thou'rt distant from the pilgrim's sight: +But my heart-wishes e'er attract thee near: * + What is the lightning's speed to Thought's swift flight? +Then go not thou, my very light of eyes * + Which, when thou'rt gone, lack all the Kohl of light." + +Then Marzawan returned to his mother's house, where he passed the +night. And when the morrow dawned, having equipped himself for his +journey, he fared forth and ceased not faring from city to city and +from island to island for a whole month, till he came to a town named +Al-Tayrab.[FN#285] Here he went about scenting news of the townsfolk, +so haply he might light on a cure for the Princess's malady, for in +every capital he entered or passed by, it was reported that Queen +Budur, daughter of King Ghayur, had lost her wits. But arriving at +Al-Tayrab city, he heard that Kamar al-Zaman, son of King Shahriman, +was fallen sick and afflicted with melancholy madness. So Marzawan +asked the name of the Prince's capital and they said to him, "It is on +the Islands of Khalidan and it lieth distant from our city a whole +month's journey by sea, but by land it is six months' march." So he +went down to the sea in a ship which was bound for the Khalidan Isles, +and she sailed with a favouring breeze for a whole month, till they +came in sight of the capital; and there remained for them but to make +the land when, behold, there came out on them a tempestuous wind which +carried away the masts and rent the canvas, so that the sails fell into +the sea and the ship capsized, with all on board,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the ship +capsized with all on board, each sought his own safety; and as for +Marzawan the set of the sea carried him under the King's palace, +wherein was Kamar al-Zaman. And by the decree of destiny it so happened +that this was the day on which King Shahriman gave audience to his +Grandees and high officers, and he was sitting, with his son's head on +his lap, whilst an eunuch fanned away the flies; and the Prince had not +spoken neither had he eaten nor drunk for two days, and he was grown +thinner than a spindle.[FN#286] Now the Wazir was standing respectfully +a-foot near the latticed window giving on the sea and, raising his +eyes, saw Marzawan being beaten by the billows and at his last gasp; +whereupon his heart was moved to pity for him, so he drew near to the +King and moving his head towards him said, "I crave thy leave, O King, +to go down to the court of the pavilion and open the water-gate that I +may rescue a man who is at the point of drowning in the sea and bring +him forth of danger into deliverance; peradventure, on this account +Allah may free thy son from what he hath!" The King replied, "O thou +Wazir, enough is that which hath befallen my son through thee and on +shine account. Haply, if thou rescue this drowning man, he will come to +know our affairs, and look on my son who is in this state and exult +over me; but I swear by Allah, that if this half-drowned wretch come +hither and learn our condition and look upon my son and then fare forth +and speak of our secrets to any, I will assuredly strike off thy head +before his; for thou, O my Minister art the cause of all that hath +betided us, first and last. Now do as thou wilt." Thereupon the Wazir +sprang up and, opening the private pastern which gave upon the sea, +descended to the causeway; then walked on twenty steps and came to the +water where he saw Marzawan nigh unto death. So he put out his hand to +him and, catching him by his hair, drew him ashore in a state of +insensibility, with belly full of water and eyes half out of his head. +The Wazir waited till he came to himself, when he pulled off his wet +clothes and clad him in a fresh suit, covering his head with one of his +servants' turbands; after which he said to him, Know that I have been +the means of saving thee from drowning: do not thou requite me by +causing my death and shine own."ÄAnd Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir +did to Marzawan what he did, he thus addressed him Know that I have +been the cause of saving thee from drowning so requite me not by +causing my death and shine own." Asked Marzawan, And how so?"; and the +Wazir answered, "Thou art at this hour about to go up and pass among +Emirs and Wazirs all of them silent and none speaking, because of Kamar +al-Zaman the son of the Sultan." Now when Marzawan heard the name of +Kamar al-Zaman, he knew that this was he whom he had heard spoken of in +sundry cities and of whom he came in search, but he feigned ignorance +and asked the Wazir, "And who is Kamar al-Zaman? Answered the Minister, +"He is the son of Sultan Shahriman and he is sore sick and lieth strown +on his couch restless alway, eating not nor drinking neither sleeping +night or day; indeed he is nigh upon death and we have lost hope of his +living and are certain that he is dying. Beware lest thou look too long +on him, or thou look on any other than that where thou settest thy +feet: else thou art a lost man, and I also." He replied, "Allah upon +thee, O Wazir, I implore thee, of thy favour, acquaint me touching this +youth thou describest, what is the cause of the condition in which he +is." The Wazir replied, "I know none, save that, three years ago, his +father required him to wed, but he refused; whereat the King was wroth +and imprisoned him. And when he awoke on the morrow, he fancied that +during the night he had been roused from sleep and had seen by his side +a young lady of passing loveliness, whose charms tongue can never +express; and he assured us that he had plucked off her seal-ring from +her finger and had put it on his own and that she had done likewise; +but we know not the secret of all this business. So by Allah, O my son, +when thou comest up with me into the palace, look not on the Prince, +but go thy way; for the Sultan's heart is full of wrath against me." So +said Marzawan to himself, "By Allah; this is the one I sought!" Then he +followed the Wazir up to the palace, where the Minister seated himself +at the Prince's feet; but Marzawan found forsooth nothing to do but go +up to Kamar al-Zaman and stand before him at gaze. Upon this the Wazir, +died of affright in his skin, and kept looking at Marzawan and +signalling him to wend his way; but he feigned not to see him and gave +not over gazing upon Kamar al- Zaman, till he was well assured that it +was indeed he whom he was seeking,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Marzawan +looked upon Kamar al-Zaman and knew that it was indeed he whom he was +seeking, he cried, "Exalted be Allah, Who hath made his shape even as +her shape and his complexion as her complexion and his cheek as her +cheek!'' Upon this Kamar al-Zaman opened his eyes and gave earnest ear +to his speech; and, when Marzawan saw him inclining to hear, he +repeated these couplets[FN#287], + +"I see thee full of song and plaint and love's own ecstasy; +Delighting in describing all the charms of loveliness: + +Art smit by stroke of Love or hath shaft-shot wounded thee? +None save the wounded ever show such signals of distress! + +Ho thou! crown the wine cup and sing me singular +Praises to Sulaymá, Al-Rabáb, Tan'oum addrest;[FN#288] + +Go round the grape-vine sun[FN#289] which for mansion hath a jar; +Whose East the cup boy is, and here my mouth that opes for West. + +I'm jealous of the very clothes that dare her sides enroll +When she veils her dainty body of the delicatest grace: + +I envy every goblet of her lips that taketh toll +When she sets the kissing cup on that sweetest kissing-place. + +But deem not by the keen-edged scymitar I'm slain— +The hurts and harms I dree are from arrows of her eyes. + +I found her finger tips, as I met her once again, +Deep-reddened with the juice of the wood that ruddy dyes;[FN#290] + +And cried, 'Thy palms thou stainedst when far away was I +And this is how thou payest one distracted by his pine!' + +Quoth she (enkindling in my heart a flame that burned high +Speaking as one who cannot hide of longing love the sign), + +'By thy life, this is no dye used for dyeing; so forbear +Thy blame, nor in charging me with falsing Love persist! + +But when upon our parting-day I saw thee haste to fare, +The while were bared my hand and my elbow and my wrist; + +'I shed a flood of blood-red tears and with fingers brushed away; Hence +blood-reddened were the tips and still blood-red they remain.' + +Had I wept before she wept, to my longing-love a prey, +Before repentance came, I had quit my soul of pain; + +But she wept before I wept and I wept to see her care +And I said, 'All the merit to precedent;'[FN#291] + +Blame me not for loving her, now on self of Love I swear +For her sake, for her only, these pains my soul torment. + +She hath all the lere of Lukmán[FN#292] and Yúsuf's beauty lief; +Sweet singer David's voice and Maryam's chastity: + +While I've all Jacob's mourning and Jonah's prison-grief, +And the sufferings of Job and old Adam's history: + +Yet kill her not, albeit of my love for her I die; +But ask her why my blood to her was lawful. ask her why?" + +When Marzawan recited this ode, the words fell upon Kamar al- Zaman's +heart as freshness after fever and returning health; and he sighed and, +turning his tongue in his mouth, said to his sire, "O my father, let +this youth come and sit by my side."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al- Zaman +said to his sire, "O my father, allow this youth to come and sit by my +side." Now when the King heard these words from his son, he rejoiced +with exceeding joy, though at the first his heart had been set against +Marzawan and he had determined that the stranger's head needs must be +stricken off: but when he heard Kamar al-Zaman speak, his anger left +him and he arose and drawing Marzawan to him, seated him by his son and +turning to him said, "Praised be Allah for thy safety!" He replied, +"Allah preserve thee! and preserve thy son to thee!" and called down +blessings on the King. Then the King asked, "From what country art +thou?"; and he answered, "From the Islands of the Inland Sea, the +kingdom of King Ghayur, Lord of the Isles and the Seas and the Seven +Palaces." Quoth King Shahriman, "Maybe thy coming shall be blessed to +my son and Allah vouchsafe to heal what is in him." Quoth Marzawan, +"Inshallah, naught shall be save what shall be well!" Then turning to +Kamar al-Zaman, he said to him in his ear unheard of the King and his +court, 'O my lord! be of good cheer, and hearten thy heart and let +shine eyes be cool and clear and, with respect to her for whose sake +thou art thus, ask not of her case on shine account. But thou keptest +thy secret and fellest sick, while she told her secret and they said +she had gone mad; so she is now in prison, with an iron chain about her +neck, in most piteous plight; but, Allah willing, the healing of both +of you shall come from my hand." Now when Kamar al-Zaman heard these +words, his life returned to him and he took heart and felt a thrill of +joy and signed to his father to help him sit up; and the King was like +to fly for gladness and rose hastily and lifted him up. Presently, of +his fear for his son, he shook the kerchief of dismissal[FN#293]; and +all the Emirs and Wazirs withdrew; then he set two pillows for his son +to lean upon, after which he bade them perfume the palace with saffron +and decorate the city, saying to Marzawan, "By Allah, O my son, of a +truth shine aspect be a lucky and a blessed!" And he made as much of +him as he might and called for food, and when they brought it, Marzawan +came up to the Prince and said, "Rise, eat with me." So he obeyed him +and ate with him, and all the while the King invoked blessings on +Marzawan and said, "How auspicious is thy coming, O my son!" And when +the father saw his boy eat, his joy and gladness redoubled, and he went +out and told the Prince's mother and all the household. Then he spread +throughout the palace the good news of the Prince's recovery and the +King commanded the decoration of the city and it was a day of high +festival. Marzawan passed that night with Kamar al-Zaman, and the King +also slept with them in joy and delight for his son's recovery.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Shahriman +also passed that night with them in the excess of his joy for his son's +recovery. And when the next morning dawned, and the King had gone away +and the two young men were left alone, Kamar al-Zaman told his story +from beginning to end to Marzawan who said, "In very sooth I know her +with whom thou didst foregather; her name is the Princess Budur and she +is daughter to King Ghayur." Then he related to him all that had passed +with the Princess from first to last and acquainted him with the +excessive love she bore him, saying, "All that befel thee with thy +father hath befallen her with hers, and thou art without doubt her +beloved, even as she is shine; so brace up thy resolution and take +heart, for I will bring thee to her and unite you both anon and deal +with you even as saith the poet, + +"Albe to lover adverse be his love, * + And show aversion howso may he care; +Yet will I manage that their persons[FN#294] meet, * + E'en as the pivot of a scissor pair." + +And he ceased not to comfort and solace and encourage Kamar al- Zaman +and urged him to eat and drink till he ate food and drank wine, and +life returned to him and he was saved from his ill case; and Marzawan +cheered him and diverted him with talk and songs and stories, and in +good time he became free of his disorder and stood up and sought to go +to the Hammam.[FN#295] So Marzawan took him by the hand and both went +to the bath, where they washed their bodies and made them clean.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Two Hundredth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kamar +al-Zaman, son of King Shahriman, went to the Hammam, his father in his +joy at this event freed the prisoners, and presented splendid dresses +to his grandees and bestowed large alm-gifts upon the poor and bade +decorate the city seven days. Then quoth Marzawan to Kamar al-Zaman, +"Know, O my lord, that I came not from the Lady Budur save for this +purpose, and the object of my journey was to deliver her from her +present case; and it remaineth for us only to devise how we may get to +her, since thy father cannot brook the thought of parting from thee. So +it is my counsel that to-morrow thou ask his leave to go abroad +hunting. Then do thou take with thee a pair of saddle-bags full of +money and mount a swift steed, and lead a spare horse, and I will do +the like, and say to thy sire, 'I have a mind to divert myself with +hunting the desert and to see the open country and there to pass one +night.' Suffer not any servant to follow us, for as soon as we reach +the open country, we will go our ways." Kamar al- Zaman rejoiced in +this plan with great joy and cried, "It is good." Then he stiffened his +back and, going in to his father, sought his leave and spoke as he had +been taught, and the King consented to his going forth a-hunting and +said, "O my son, blessed be the day that restoreth thee to health! I +will not gainsay thee in this; but pass not more than one night in the +desert and return to me on the morrow; for thou knowest that life is +not good to me without thee, and indeed I can hardly believe thee to be +wholly recovered from what thou hadst,[FN#296] because thou art to me +as he of whom quoth the poet, + +'Albe by me I had through day and night * + Solomon's carpet and the Chosroes' might, +Both were in value less than wing of gnat, * + Unless these eyne could hold thee aye in sight.'"[FN#297] + +Then the King equipped his son Kamar al-Zaman and Marzawan for the +excursion, bidding make ready for them four horses, together with a +dromedary to carry the money and a camel to bear the water and belly +timber; and Kamar al-Zaman forbade any of his attendants to follow him. +His father farewelled him and pressed him to his breast and kissed him, +saying, "I ask thee in the name of Allah, be not absent from me more +than one night, wherein sleep will be unlawful to me, for I am even as +saith the poet, + +'Thou present, in the Heaven of heavens I dwell; * + Bearing shine absence is of hells my Hell: +Pledged be for thee my soul! If love for thee * + Be crime, my crime is of the fellest fell. +Does love-lowe burn thy heart as burns it mine, * + Doomed night and day Gehenna-fire to smell?'" + +Answered Kamar al-Zaman, "O my father, Inshallah, I will lie abroad but +one night!" Then he took leave of him, and he and Marzawan mounted and +leading the spare horses, the dromedary with the money and the camel +with the water and victual, turned their faces towards the open +country;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawning day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and First Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al- Zaman +and Marzawan fared forth and turned their faces towards the open +country; and they travelled from the first of the day till nightfall, +when they halted and ate and drank and fed their beasts and rested +awhile; after which they again took horse and ceased not journeying for +three days, and on the fourth they came to a spacious tract wherein was +a thicket. They alighted in it and Marzawan, taking the camel and one +of the horses, slaughtered them and cut off their flesh and stripped +their bones. Then he doffed from Kamar al-Zaman his shirt and trousers +which he smeared with the horse's blood and he took the Prince's coat +which he tore to shreds and befouled with gore; and he cast them down +in the fork of the road. Then they ate and drank and mounting set +forward again; and, when Kamar al- Zaman asked why this was done, and +said, "What is this O my brother, and how shall it profit us?"; +Marzawan replied, "Know that thy father, when we have outstayed the +second night after the night for which we had his leave, and yet we +return not, will mount and follow in our track till he come hither; +and, when he happeneth upon this blood which I have spilt and he seeth +thy shirt and trousers rent and gore-fouled, he will fancy that some +accident befel thee from bandits or wild-beasts, so he will give up +hope of thee and return to his city, and by this device we shall win +our wishes." Quoth Kamar al-Zaman, "By Allah, this be indeed a rare +device! Thou hast done right well.''[FN#298] Then the two fared on days +and nights and all that while Kamar al-Zaman did naught but complain +when he found himself alone, and he ceased not weeping till they drew +near their journeys end, when he rejoiced and repeated these verses, + +"Wilt tyrant play with truest friend who thinks of thee each + hour, * And after showing love-desire betray indifference? +May I forfeit every favour if in love I falsed thee, * + If thee I left, abandon me by way of recompense: +But I've been guilty of no crime such harshness to deserve, * + And if I aught offended thee I bring my penitence; +Of Fortune's wonders one it is thou hast abandoned me, * + But Fortune never wearieth of showing wonderments." + +When he had made an end of his verses, Marzawan said to him, "Look! +these be King Ghayur's Islands;" whereat Kamar al-Zaman joyed with +exceeding joy and thanked him for what he had done, and kissed him +between the eyes and strained him—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Marzawan +said "Look! these be the Islands of King Ghayur;" Kamar al-Zaman joyed +with exceeding joy and thanked him for what he had done and kissed him +between the eyes and strained him to his bosom. And after reaching the +Islands and entering the city they took up their lodging in a khan, +where they rested three days from the fatigues of their wayfare; after +which Marzawan carried Kamar al-Zaman to the bath and, clothing him in +merchant's gear, provided him with a geomantic tablet of gold,[FN#299] +with a set of astrological instruments and with an astrolabe of silver, +plated with gold. Then he said to him, "Arise, O my lord, and take thy +stand under the walls of the King's palace and cry out, 'I am the ready +Reckoner; I am the Scrivener; I am he who weeteth the Sought and the +Seeker; I am the finished man of Science; I am the Astrologer +accomplished in experience! Where then is he that seeketh?' As soon as +the King heareth this, he will send after thee and carry thee in to his +daughter the Princess Budur, thy lover; but when about going in to her +do thou say to him, 'Grant me three days' delay, and if she recover, +give her to me to wife; and if not, deal with me as thou dealest with +those who forewent me.' He will assuredly agree to this, so as soon as +thou art alone with her, discover thyself to her; and when she seeth +thee, she will recover strength and her madness will cease from her and +she will be made whole in one night. Then do thou give her to eat and +drink. and her father, rejoicing in her recovery, will marry thee to +her and share his kingdom with thee; for he hath imposed on himself +this condition and so peace be upon thee." Now when Kamar al-Zaman +heard these words he exclaimed, "May I never lack thy benefits!", and, +taking the set of instruments aforesaid, sallied forth from the +caravanserai in the dress of his order. He walked on till he stood +under the walls of King Ghayur's palace, where he began to cry out, +saying, "I am the Scribe, I am the ready Reckoner, I am he who knoweth +the Sought and the Seeker; I am he who openeth the Volume and summeth +up the Sums;[FN#300] who Dreams can expound whereby the sought is +found! Where then is the seeker?" Now when the city people heard this, +they flocked to him, for it was long since they had seen Scribe or +Astrologer, and they stood round him and, looking upon him, they saw +one in the prime of beauty and grace and perfect elegance, and they +marvelled at his loveliness, and his fine stature and symmetry. +Presently one of them accosted him and said, "Allah upon thee, O thou +fair and young, with the eloquent tongue! incur not this affray; nor +throw thy life away in thine ambition to marry the Princess Budur. Only +cast shine eyes upon yonder heads hung up; all their owners have lost +their lives in this same venture." Yet Kamar al-Zaman paid no heed to +them, but cried out at the top of his voice, saying, "I am the Doctor, +the Scrivener! I am the Astrologer, the Calculator!" And all the +townsfolk forbade him from this, but he regarded them not at all, +saying in his mind, "None knoweth desire save whoso suffereth it." Then +he began again to cry his loudest, shouting, "I am the Scrivener, I am +the Astrologer!"—And Shahrazad per ceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al- Zaman +in no wise heeded the words of the citizens, but continued to cry out, +"I am the Calculator! I am the Astrologer!" Thereupon all the townsfolk +were wroth with him and said to him, "Thou art nothing but an imbecile, +silly, self-willed lad! Have pity on shine own youth and tender years +and beauty and loveliness." But he cried all the more, "I am the +Astrologer, I am the Calculator! Is there any one that seeketh?" As he +was thus crying and the people forbidding him, behold, King Ghayur +heard his voice and the clamour of the lieges and said to his Wazir, +"Go down and bring me yon Astrologer." So the Wazir, went down in +haste, and taking Kamar al-Zaman from the midst of the crowd led him up +to the King; and when in the presence he kissed the ground and began +versifying, + +"Eight glories meet, all, all conjoined in thee, * + Whereby may Fortune aye thy servant be: +Lere, lordliness, grace, generosity; * + Plain words, deep meaning, honour, victory!" + +When the King looked upon him, he seated him by his side and said to +him, "By Allah, O my son, an thou be not an astrologer, venture not thy +life nor comply with my condition; for I have bound myself that whoso +goeth in to my daughter and healeth her not of that which hath befallen +her I will strike off his head; but whoso healeth her him I will marry +to her. So let not thy beauty and loveliness delude thee: for, by +Allah! and again, by Allah! If thou cure her not, I will assuredly cut +off thy head." And Kamar al-Zaman replied, "This is thy right; and I +consent, for I wot of this ere came I hither." Then King Ghayur took +the Kazis to witness against him and delivered him to the eunuch, +saying, "Carry this one to the Lady Budur." So the eunuch took him by +the hand and led him along the passage; but Kamar al-Zaman outstripped +him and pushed on before, whilst the eunuch ran after him, saying, "Woe +to thee! Hasten not to shine own ruin: never yet saw I astrologer so +eager for his proper destruction; but thou weetest not what calamities +are before thee." Thereupon Kamar al-Zaman turned away his face from +the eunuch,—And Shah razed perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the eunuch +thus addressed Kamar al-Zaman, "Patience, and no indecent hurry!"; the +Prince turned away his face and began repeating these couplets, + +"A Sage, I feel a fool before thy charms; * + Distraught, I wot not what the words I say: +If say I 'Sun,' away thou dost not pass * + From eyes of me, while suns go down with day: +Thou hast completed Beauty, in whose praise * + Speech-makers fail, and talkers lose their way." + +Then the eunuch stationed Kamar al-Zaman behind the curtain of the +Princess's door and the Prince said to him, "Which of the two ways will +please thee more, treat and cure thy lady from here or go in and heal +her within the curtain?" The eunuch marvelled at his words and +answered, "An thou heal her from here it were better proof of thy +skill." Upon this Kamar al-Zaman sat down behind the curtain and, +taking out ink case, pen and paper, wrote the following: "This is the +writ of one whom passion swayeth,* and whom longing waylayeth * and +wakeful misery slayeth * one who despaireth of living * and looketh for +naught but dying * with whose mourning heart * nor comforter nor helper +taketh part * One whose sleepless eyes * none succoureth from anxieties +* whose day is passed in fire * and his night in torturing desire * +whose body is wasted for much emaciation * and no messenger from his +beloved bringeth him consolation." And after this he indited the +following couplets, + +"I write with heart devoted to thy thought, * + And eyelids chafed by tears of blood they bled; +And body clad, by loving pine and pain, * + In shirt of leanness, and worn down to thread, +To thee complain I of Love's tormentry, * + Which ousted hapless Patience from her stead: +A toi! show favour and some mercy deign, * + For Passion's cruel hands my vitals shred." + +And beneath his lines he wrote these cadenced sentences, "The heart's +pain is removed * by union with the beloved * and whomso his lover +paineth * only Allah assaineth! * If we or you have wrought deceit * +may the deceiver win defeat! * There is naught goodlier than a lover +who keeps faith * with the beloved who works him scathe." Then, by way +of subscription, he wrote, "From the distracted and despairing man * +whom love and longing trepan * from the lover under passion's ban * the +prisoner of transport and distraction * from this Kamar al-Zaman * son +of Shahriman * to the peerless one * of the fair Houris the pearl-union +* to the Lady Budur * daughter of King Al Ghayur * Know thou that by +night I am sleepless * and by day in distress * consumed with +increasing wasting and pain * and longing and love unfain * abounding +in sighs * with tear flooded eyes * by passion captive ta'en * of +Desire the slain * with heart seared by the parting of us twain * the +debtor of longing bane, of sickness cup-companion * I am the sleepless +one, who never closeth eye * the slave of love, whose tears run never +dry * for the fire of my heart is still burning * and never hidden is +the flame of my yearning." Then on the margin Kamar al-Zaman wrote this +admired verse, + +"Salem from graces hoarded by my Lord * + To her, who holds my heart and soul in hoard!" + +And also these, + +"Pray'ee grant me some words from your lips, belike * + Such mercy may comfort and cool these eyne: +From the stress of my love and my pine for you, * + I make light of what makes me despised, indign: +Allah guard a folk whose abode was far, * + And whose secret I kept in the holiest shrine: +Now Fortune in kindness hath favoured me * + Thrown on threshold dust of this love o' mine: +By me bedded I looked on Budúr, whose sun * + The moon of my fortunes hath made to shine." + +Then, having affixed his seal-ring to the missive, he wrote these +couplets in the place of address, + +"Ask of my writ what wrote my pen in dole, * + And hear my tale of misery from this scroll; +My hand is writing while my tears down flow, * + And to the paper 'plains my longing soul: +My tears cease not to roll upon this sheet, * + And if they stopped I'd cause blood-gouts to roll." + +And at the end he added this other verse, + +"I've sent the ring from off thy finger bore * + I when we met, now deign my ring restore!" + +Then Kamar al-Zaman set the Lady Budur's ring inside the letter and +sealed it and gave it to the eunuch, who took it and went in with it to +his mistress.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al- Zaman, +after setting the seal-ring inside the epistle, gave it to the eunuch +who took it and went in with it to his mistress; and, when the Lady +Budur opened it, she found therein her own very ring. Then she read the +paper and when she understood its purport and knew that it was from her +beloved, and that he in person stood behind the curtain, her reason +began to fly and her breast swelled for joy and rose high; and she +repeated these couplets, + +"Long, long have I bewailed the sev'rance of our loves, * + With tears that from my lids streamed down like burning + rain; +And vowed that, if the days deign reunite us two, * + My lips should never speak of severance again: +Joy hath o'erwhelmed me so that, for the very stress * + Of that which gladdens me to weeping I am fain. +Tears are become to you a habit, O my eyes, * + So that ye weep as well for gladness as for pain.''[FN#301] + +And having finished her verse, the Lady Budur stood up forthwith and, +firmly setting her feet to the wall, strained with all her might upon +the collar of iron, till she brake it from her neck and snapped the +chains. Then going forth from behind the curtain she threw herself on +Kamar al-Zaman and kissed him on the mouth, like a pigeon feeding its +young.[FN#302] And she embraced him with all the stress of her love and +longing and said to him, "O my lord do I wake or sleep and hath the +Almighty indeed vouchsafe] us reunion after disunion? Laud be to Allah +who hath our loves repaired, even after we despaired!" Now when the +eunuch saw her in this case, he went off running to King Ghayur and, +kissing the ground before him, said, "O my lord, know that this +Astrologer is indeed the Shaykh of all astrologers, who are fools to +him, all of them; for verily he hath cured thy daughter while standing +behind the curtain and without going in to her." Quoth the King, "Look +well to it, is this news true?" Answered the eunuch, "O my lord, rise +and come and see for thyself how she hath found strength to break the +iron chains and is come forth to the Astrologer, kissing and embracing +him." Thereupon the King arose and went in to his daughter who, when +she saw him, stood up in haste and covered her head,[FN#303] and +recited these two couplets, + +"The toothstick love I not; for when I say, * + 'Siwák,'[FN#304] I miss thee, for it sounds 'Siwá-ka'. +The caper-tree I love; for when I say, * + 'Arák'[FN#305] it sounds I look on thee, 'Ará-ka.'" + +Thereupon the King was so transported for joy at her recovery that he +felt like to fly and kissed her between the eyes, for he loved her with +dearest love; then, turning to Kamar al-Zaman, he asked him who he was, +and said, "What countryman art thou?" So the Prince told him his name +and rank, and informed him that he was the son of King Shahriman, and +presently related to him the whole story from beginning to end; and +acquainted him with what happened between himself and the Lady Budur; +and how he had taken her seal-ring from her finger and had placed it on +his own; whereat Ghayur marvelled and said, "Verily your story +deserveth in books to be chronicled, and when you are dead and gone age +after age be read." Then he summoned Kazis and witnesses forthright and +married the Lady Budur to Prince Kamar al-Zaman; after which he bade +decorate the city seven days long. So they spread the tables with all +manner of meats, whilst the drums beat and the criers anounced the glad +tidings, and all the troops donned their richest clothes; and they +illuminated the city and held high festival. Then Kamar al-Zaman went +in to the Lady Budur and the King rejoiced in her recovery and in her +marriage; and praised Allah for that He had made her to fall in love +with a goodly youth of the sons of Kings. So they unveiled her and +displayed the bride before the bridegroom; and both were the living +likeness of each other in beauty and comeliness and grace and +love-allurement. Then Kamar al-Zaman lay with her that night and took +his will of her, whilst she in like manner fulfilled her desire of him +and enjoyed his charms and grace; and they slept in each other's arms +till the morning. On the morrow, the King made a wedding-feast to which +he gathered all comers from the Islands of the Inner and Outer Seas, +and he spread the tables with choicest viands nor ceased the +banquetting for a whole month. Now when Kamar al-Zaman had thus +fulfilled his will and attained his inmost desire, and whenas he had +tarried awhile with the Princess Budur, he bethought him of his father, +King Shahriman, and saw him in a dream, saying, "O my son, is it thus +thou dealest with me?" and recited in the vision these two couplets, + +"Indeed to watch the darkness-moon he blighted me, * + And to star-gaze through longsome night he plighted me: +Easy, my heart! for haply he'll unite with thee; * + And patience, Sprite! with whatso ills he dight to thee." + +Now after seeing his father in the dream and hearing his re preaches, +Kamar al-Zaman awoke in the morning, afflicted and troubled, whereupon +the Lady Budur questioned him and he told her what he had seen.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kamar +al-Zaman acquainted the Lady Budur with what he had seen in his dream, +she and he went in to her sire and, telling him what had passed, +besought his leave to travel. He gave the Prince the permission he +sought; but the Princess said, "O my father, I cannot bear to be parted +from him." Quoth Ghayur, her sire, "Then go thou with him," and gave +her leave to be absent a whole twelvemonth and afterwards to visit him +in every year once; so she kissed his hand and Kamar al-Zaman did the +like. Thereupon King Ghayur proceeded to equip his daughter and her +bridegroom for the journey, and furnished them with outfit and +appointments for the march; and brought out of his stables horses +marked with his own brand, blood-dromedaries[FN#306] which can journey +ten days without water, and prepared a litter for his daughter, besides +loading mules and camels with victual; moreover, he gave them slaves +and eunuchs to serve them and all manner of travellinggear; and on the +day of departure, when King Ghayur took leave of Kamar al-Zaman, he +bestowed on him ten splendid suits of cloth of gold embroidered with +stones of price, together with ten riding horses and ten she-camels, +and a treasury of money;[FN#307] and he charged him to love and cherish +his daughter the Lady Budur. Then the King accompanied them to the +farthest limits of his Islands where, going in to his daughter Budur in +the litter, he kissed her and strained her to his bosom, weeping and +repeating, + +"O thou who wooest Severance, easy fare! * + For love-embrace belongs to lover-friend: +Fare softly! Fortune's nature falsehood is, * + And parting shall love's every meeting end." + +Then leaving his daughter, he went to her husband and bade him farewell +and kissed him; after which he parted from them and, giving the order +for the march he returned to his capital with his troops. The Prince +and Princess and their suite fared on without stopping through the +first day and the second and the third and the fourth, nor did they +cease faring for a whole month till they came to a spacious champaign, +abounding in pasturage, where they pitched their tents; and they ate +and drank and rested, and the Princess Budur lay down to sleep. +Presently, Kamar al-Zaman went in to her and found her lying asleep +clad in a shift of apricot-coloured silk that showed all and +everything; and on her head was a coif of gold-cloth embroidered with +pearls and jewels. The breeze raised her shift which laid bare her +navel and showed her breasts and displayed a stomach whiter than snow, +each one of whose dimples would contain an ounce of benzoin- +ointment.[FN#308] At this sight, his love and longing redoubled, and he +began reating, + +"An were it asked me when by hell-fire burnt, * + When flames of heart my vitals hold and hem, +'Which wouldst thou chose, say wouldst thou rather them, * + Or drink sweet cooling draught?' I'd answer, 'Them!' " + +Then he put his hand to the band of her petticoat-trousers and drew it +and loosed it, for his soul lusted after her, when he saw a jewel, red +as dye-wood, made fast to the band. He untied it and examined it and, +seeing two lines of writing graven thereon, in a character not to be +read, marvelled and said in his mind, "Were not this bezel something to +her very dear she had not bound it to her trousers-band nor hidden it +in the most privy and precious place about her person, that she might +not be parted from it. Would I knew what she cloth with this and what +is the secret that is in it." So saying, he took it and went outside +the tent to look at it in the light,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day, and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when he took the +bezel to look at it in the light, the while he was holding it behold, a +bird swooped down on him and, snatching the same from his hand, flew +off with it and then lighted on the ground. There-upon Kamar al-Zaman +fearing to lose the jewel, ran after the bird; but it flew on before +him, keeping just out of his reach, and ceased not to draw him on from +dale to dale and from hill to hill, till the night starkened and the +firmament darkened, when it roosted on a high tree. So Kamar al-Zaman +stopped under the tree confounded in thought and faint for famine and +fatigue, and giving himself up for lost, would have turned back, but +knew not the way whereby he came, for that darkness had overtaken him. +Then he exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious the Great!"; and laying him down under the tree +(whereon was the bird) slept till the morning, when he awoke and saw +the bird also wake up and fly away. He arose and walked after it, and +it flew on little by little before him, after the measure of his +faring; at which he smiled and said, "By Allah, a strange thing! +Yesterday, this bird flew before me as fast as I could run, and to-day, +knowing that I have awoke tired and cannot run, he flieth after the +measure of my faring. By Allah, this is wonderful! But I must needs +follow this bird whether it lead me to death or to life; and I will go +wherever it goeth, for at all events it will not abide save in some +inhabited land.[FN#309] So he continued to follow the bird which +roosted every night upon a tree; and he ceased not pursuing it for a +space of ten days, feeding on the fruits of the earth and drinking of +its waters. At the end of this time, he came in sight of an inhabited +city, whereupon the bird darted off like the glance of the eye and, +entering the town, disappeared from Kamar al-Zaman, who knew not what +it meant or whither it was gone; so he marvelled at this and exclaimed, +"Praise be to Allah who hath brought me in safety to this city!" Then +he sat down by a stream and washed his hands and feet and face and +rested awhile; and, recalling his late easy and pleasant life of union +with his beloved and contrasting it with his present plight of trouble +and fatigue and distress and strangerhood and famine and severance, the +tears streamed from his eyes and he began repeating these cinquains, + +"Pain had I hid thy handwork, but it showed, * + Changed sleep for wake, and wake with me abode: +When thou didst spurn my heart I cried aloud * + Pate, hold thy hand and cease to gird and goad: + In dole and danger aye my sprite I spy! + +An but the Lord of Love were just to me, * + Sleep fro' my eyelids ne'er were forced to flee. +Pity, my lady, one for love o' thee * + Prom his tribes darling brought to low degree: + Love came and doomed Wealth beggar-death to die. + +The railers chide at thee: I ne'er gainsay, * + But stop my ears and dumbly sign them Nay: +'Thou lov'st a slender may,' say they; I say, * + 'I've picked her out and cast the rest away:' + Enough; when Fate descends she blinds man's + eye!"[FN#310] + +And as soon as he had finished his poetry and had taken his rest, he +rose and walked on little by little, till he entered the city.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that as soon as Kamar +al-Zaman had finished his poetry and had taken his rest, he arose and +entered the city-gate[FN#311] not knowing whither he should wend. He +crossed the city from end to end, entering by the land-gate, and ceased +not faring on till he came out at the sea- gate, for the city stood on +the sea-shore. Yet he met not a single one of its citizens. And after +issuing from the land-gate he fared forwards and ceased not faring till +he found himself among the orchards and gardens of the place; and, +passing among the trees presently came to a garden and stopped before +its door; where-upon the keeper came out to him and saluted him. The +Prince returned his greeting and the gardener bade him welcome, saying, +"Praised be Allah that thou hast come off safe from the dwellers of +this city! Quick, come into the garth, ere any of the townfolk see +thee." Thereupon Kamar al-Zaman entered that garden, wondering in mind, +and asked the keeper, "What may be the history of the people of this +city and who may they be?" The other answered, "Know that the people of +this city are all Magians: but Allah upon thee, tell me how thou camest +to this city and what caused thy coming to our capital." Accordingly +Kamar al-Zaman told the gardener all that had befallen him from +beginning to end, whereat he marvelled with great marvel and said, +"Know, O my son, that the cities of Al-Islam lie far from us; and +between us and them is a four months' voyage by sea and a whole twelve +months' journey by land. We have a ship which saileth every year with +merchandise to the nearest Moslem country and which entereth the seas +of the Ebony Islands and thence maketh the Khalidan Islands, the +dominions of King Shahriman." Thereupon Kamar al- Zaman considered +awhile and concluded that he could not do better than abide in the +garden with the gardener and become his assistant, receiving for pay +one fourth of the produce. So he said to him, "Wilt thou take me into +thy service, to help thee in this garden?" Answered the gardener, "To +hear is to consent;" and began teaching him to lead the water to the +roots of the trees. So Kamar al-Zaman abode with him, watering the +trees and hoeing up the weeds and wearing a short blue frock which +reached to his knees. And he wept floods of tears; for he had no rest +day or night, by reason of his strangerhood and he ceased not to repeat +verses upon his beloved, amongst others the following couplets, + +"Ye promised us and will ye not keep plight? * + Ye said a say and shall not deed be dight? +We wake for passion while ye slumber and sleep; * + Watchers and wakers claim not equal right: +We vowed to keep our loves in secrecy, * + But spake the meddler and you spoke forthright: +O friend in pain and pleasure, joy and grief, * + In all case you, you only, claim my sprite! +Mid folk is one who holds my prisoned heart; * + Would he but show some ruth for me to sight. +Not every eye like mine is wounded sore, * + Not every heart like mine love-pipings blight: +Ye wronged me saying, Love is wrongous aye * + Yea! ye were right, events have proved that quite. +Forget they one love-thralled, whose faith the world * + Robs not, though burn the fires in heart alight: +If an my foeman shall become my judge, * + Whom shall I sue to remedy his despight? +Had not I need of love nor love had sought, * + My heart forsure were not thus love-distraught." + +Such was the case with Kamar al-Zaman; but as regards his wife, the +Lady Budur, when she awoke she sought her husband and found him not: +then she saw her petticoat-trousers undone, for the band had been +loosed and the bezel lost, whereupon she said to herself, "By Allah, +this is strange! Where is my husband? It would seem as if he had taken +the talisman and gone away, knowing not the secret which is in it. +Would to Heaven I knew whither can he have wended! But it must needs +have been some extraordinary matter that drew him away, for he cannot +brook to leave me a moment. Allah curse the stone and damn its hour!" +Then she considered awhile and said in her mind, "If I go out and tell +the varlets and let them learn that my husband is lost they will lust +after me: there is no help for it but that I use stratagem. So she rose +and donned some of her husband's clothes and riding- boots, and a +turband like his, drawing one corner of it across her face for a +mouth-veil.[FN#312] Then, setting a slave-girl in her litter, she went +forth from the tent and called to the pages who brought her Kamar +al-Zaman's steed; and she mounted and bade them load the beasts and +resume the march. So they bound on the burdens and departed; and she +concealed her trick, none doubting but she was Kamar al-Zaman, for she +favoured him in face and form; nor did she cease journeying, she and +her suite, days and nights, till they came in sight of a city +overlooking the Salt Sea, where they pitched their tents without the +walls and halted to rest. The Princess asked the name of the town and +was told, "It is called the City of Ebony; its King is named Armanús, +and he hath a daughter Hayát al-Nufús[FN#313] hight,"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Lady +Budur halted within sight of the Ebony City to take her rest, King +Armanus sent a messenger, to learn what King it was who had encamped +without his capital; so the messenger, coming to the tents, made +inquiry anent their King, and was told that she was a King's son who +had lost the way being bound for the Khalidan Islands; whereupon he +returned to King Armanus with the tidings; and, when the King heard +them, he straightway rode out with the lords of his land to greet the +stranger on arrival. As he drew near the tents the Lady Budur came to +meet him on foot, whereupon the King alighted and they saluted each +other. Then he took her to the city and, bringing her up to the palace, +bade them spread the tables and trays of food and commanded them to +transport her company and baggage to the guess house. So they abode +there three days; at the end of which time the King came in to the Lady +Budur. Now she had that day gone to the Hammam and her face shone as +the moon at its full, a seduction to the world and a rending of the +veil of shame to mankind; and Armanus found her clad in a -suit of +silk, embroidered with gold and jewels; so he said to her, 'O my son, +know that I am a very old man, decrepit withal, and Allah hath blessed +me with no child save one daughter, who resembleth thee in beauty and +grace; and I am now waxed unfit for the conduct of the state. She is +shine, O my son; and, if this my land please thee and thou be willing +to abide and make thy home here, I will marry thee to her and give thee +my kingdom and so be at rest." When Princess Budur heard this, she +bowed her head and her forehead sweated for shame, and she said to +herself. "How shall I do, and I a woman? If I refuse and depart from +him, I cannot be safe but that haply send after me troops to slay me; +and if I consent, belike I shall be put to shame. I have lost my +beloved Kamar al-Zaman and know not what is become of him; nor can I +escape from this scrape save by holding my peace and consenting and +abiding here, till Allah bring about what is to be." So she raised her +head and made submission to King Armanus, saying, "Hearkening and +obedience!"; whereat he rejoiced and bade the herald make proclamation +throughout the Ebony Islands to hold high festival and decorate the +houses. Then he assembled his Chamberlains and Nabobs, and Emirs and +Wazirs and his officers of state and the Kazis of the city; and, +formally abdicating his Sultanate, endowed Budur therewith and invested +her in all the vestments of royalty. The Emirs and Grandees went in to +her and did her homage, nothing doubting but that she was a young man, +and all who looked on her bepissed their bag-trousers, for the excess +of her beauty and loveliness. Then, after the Lady Budur had been made +Sultan and the drums had been beaten in announcement of the glad event, +and she had been ceremoniously enthroned, King Armanus proceeded to +equip his daughter Hayat al-Nufus for marriage, and in a few days, they +brought the Lady Budur in to her, when they seemed as it were two moons +risen at one time or two suns in conjunction. So they entered the +bridal-chamber and the doors were shut and the curtains let down upon +them, after the attendants had lighted the wax-candles and spread for +them the carpet-bed. When Budur found herself alone with the Princess +Hayat al-Nufus, she called to mind her beloved Kamar al-Zaman and grief +was sore upon her. So she wept for his absence, and estrangement and +she began repeating, + +"O ye who fled and left my heart in pain low li'en, * + No breath of life if found within this frame of mine: +I have an eye which e'er complains of wake, but lo! * + Tears occupy it would that wake content these eyne! +After ye marched forth the lover 'bode behind; * + Question of him what pains your absence could design! +But for the foods of tears mine eyelids rail and rain, * + My fires would flame on high and every land calcine. +To Allah make I moan of loved ones lost for aye, * + Who for my pine and pain no more shall pain and pine: +I never wronged them save that over love I nurst: * + But Love departs us lovers into blest and curst." + +And when she had finished her repeating, the Lady Budur sat down beside +the Princess Hayat al-Nufus and kissed her on the mouth; after which +rising abruptly, she made the minor ablution and betook herself to her +devotions; nor did she leave praying till Hayat al-Nufus fell asleep, +when she slips into bed and lay with her back to her till morning. And +when day had broke the King and Queen came in to their daughter and +asked her how she did. whereupon she told them what she had seen, and +repeated to them the verses she had heard. Thus far concerning Hayat +al-Nufus and her father; but as regards Queen Budur she went forth and +seated herself upon the royal throne and all the Emirs and Captains and +Officers of state came up to her and wished her joy of the kingship, +kissing the earth before her and calling down blessings upon her. And +she accosted them with smiling face and clad them in robes of honour, +augmenting the fiefs of the high officials and giving largesse to the +levies; wherefore all the people loved her and offered up prayers for +the long endurance of her reign, doubting not but that she was a man. +And she ceased not sitting all day in the hall of audience, bidding and +forbidding; dispensing justice, releasing prisoners and remitting the +customs-dues, till nightfall, when she withdrew to the apartment +prepared for her. Here she found Hayat al-Nufus seated, so she sat down +by her side and, clapping her on the back, coaxed and caressed her and +kissed her between the eyes, and fell to versifying in these couplets, + +"What secret kept I these my tears have told, * + And my waste body must my love unfold: +Though hid my pine, my plight on parting day * + To every envious eye my secret sold: +O ye who broke up camp, you've left behind * + My spirit wearied and my heart a-cold: +In my hearts core ye dwell, and now these eyne * + Roll blood-drops with the tears they whilome rolled: +The absent will I ransom with my soul; * + All can my yearning for their sight behold: +I have an eye whose babe,[FN#314] for love of thee, * + Rejected sleep nor hath its tears controlled. +The foeman bids me patient bear his loss, * + Ne'er may mine ears accept the ruth he doled! +I tricks their deme of me, and won my wish * + Of Kamar al-Zaman's joys manifold: +He joins all perfect gifts like none before, * + Boasted such might and main no King of old: +Seeing his gifts, Bin Zá'idah's[FN#315] largesse * + Forget we, and Mu'áwiyah mildest-soul'd:[FN#316] +Were verse not feeble and o'er short the time * + I had in laud of him used all of rhyme." + +Then Queen Budur stood up and wiped away her tears and, making the +lesser ablution,[FN#317] applied her to pray: nor did she give over +praying till drowsiness overcame the Lady Hayat al- Nufus and she +slept, whereupon the Lady Budur came and lay by her till the morning. +At daybreak, she arose and prayed the dawn- prayer; and presently +seated herself on the royal throne and passed the day in ordering and +counter ordering and giving laws and administering justice. This is how +it fared with her; but as regards King Armanus he went in to his +daughter and asked her how she did; so she told him all that had +befallen her and repeated to him the verses which Queen Budur had +recited, adding, "O my father, never saw I one more abounding in sound +sense and modesty than my husband, save that he cloth nothing but weep +and sigh." He answered, "O my daughter, have patience with him yet this +third night, and if he go not in unto thee and do away thy maidenhead, +we shall know how to proceed with him and oust him from the throne and +banish him the country." And on this wise he agreed with his daughter +what course he would take.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Tenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Armanus +had agreed with his daughter on this wise and had determined what +course he would take and night came on, Queen Budur arose from the +throne of her kingdom and betaking herself to the palace, entered the +apartment prepared for her. There she found the wax-candles lighted and +the Princess Hayat al-Nufus seated and awaiting her; whereupon she +bethought her of her husband and what had betided them both of sorrow +and severance in so short a space; she wept and sighed and groaned +groan upon groan, and began improvising these couplets, + +"News of my love fill all the land, I swear, * + As suns on Ghazá[FN#318]-wold rain heat and glare: +Speaketh his geste but hard its sense to say; * + Thus never cease to grow my cark and care: +I hate fair Patience since I loved thee; * + E'er sawest lover hate for love to bear? +A glance that dealt love-sickness dealt me death, * + Glances are deadliest things with torments rare: +He shook his love locks down and bared his chin, * + Whereby I spied his beauties dark and fair: +My care, my cure are in his hands; and he * + Who caused their dolour can their dole repair: +His belt went daft for softness of his waist; * + His hips, for envy, to uprise forbear: +His brow curl-diademed is murky night; * + Unveil 't and lo! bright Morn shows brightest light." + +When she had finished her versifying, she would have risen to pray, +but, lo and behold! Hayat al-Nufus caught her by the skirt and clung to +her saying, "O my lord, art thou not ashamed before my father, after +all his favour, to neglect me at such a time as this?" When Queen Budur +heard her words, she sat down in the same place and said, "O my +beloved, what is this thou sayest?" She replied, "What I say is that I +never saw any so proud of himself as thou. Is every fair one so +disdainful? I say not this to incline thee to me; I say it only of my +fear for thee from King Armanus; because he purposeth, unless thou go +in unto me this very night, and do away my maidenhead, to strip thee of +the kingship on the morrow and banish thee his kingdom; and +peradventure his excessive anger may lead him to slay thee. But I, O my +lord, have ruth on thee and give thee fair warning; and it is thy right +to reck."[FN#319] Now when Queen Budur heard her speak these words, she +bowed her head ground-wards awhile in sore perplexity and said in +herself, "If I refuse I'm lost; and if I obey I'm shamed. But I am now +Queen of all the Ebony Islands and they are under my rule, nor shall I +ever again meet my Kamar al- Zaman save in this place; for there is no +way for him to his native land but through the Ebony Islands. Verily, I +know not what to do in my present case, but I commit my care to Allah +who directeth all for the best, for I am no man that I should arise and +open this virgin girl." Then quoth Queen Budur to Hayat al- Nufus, "O +my beloved, that I have neglected thee and abstained from thee is in my +own despite." And she told her her whole story from beginning to end +and showed her person to her, saying, "I conjure thee by Allah to keep +my counsel, for I have concealed my case only that Allah may reunite me +with my beloved Kamar al- Zaman and then come what may."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Eleventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Lady +Budur acquainted Hayat al-Nufus with her history and bade her keep it +secret, the Princess heard her with extreme wonderment and was moved to +pity and prayed Allah to reunite her with her beloved, saying, "Fear +nothing, O my sister; but have patience till Allah bring to pass that +which must come to pass:" and she began repeating, + +"None but the men of worth a secret keep; +With worthy men a secret's hidden deep; +As in a room, so secrets lie with me, +Whose door is sealed, lock shot and lost the key."[FN#320] + +And when Hayat al-Nufus had ended her verses, she said, "O my sister, +verily the breasts of the noble and brave are of secrets the grave; and +I will not discover shine." Then they toyed and embraced and kissed and +slept till near the Mu'ezzin's call to dawn prayer, when Hayat al-Nufus +arose and took a pigeon-poult,[FN#321] and cut its throat over her +smock and besmeared herself with its blood. Then she pulled off her +petticoat-trousers and cried aloud, where-upon her people hastened to +her and raised the usual lullilooing and outcries of joy and gladness. +Presently her mother came in to her and asked her how she did and +busied herself about her and abode with her till evening; whilst the +Lady Budur arose with the dawn, and repaired to the bath and, after +washing herself pure, proceeded to the hall of audience, where she sat +down on her throne and dispensed justice among the folk. Now when King +Armanus heard the loud cries of joy, he asked what was the matter and +was informed of the consummation of his daughter's marriage; whereat he +rejoiced and his breast swelled with gladness and he made a great +marriage-feast whereof the merry-making lasted a long time. Such was +their case: but as regards King Shahriman it was on this wise. After +his son had fared forth to the chase accompanied by Marzawan, as before +related, he tarried patiently awaiting their return at nightfall; but +when his son did not appear he passed a sleepless night and the dark +hours were longsome upon him; his restlessness was excessive, his +excitement grew upon him and he thought the morning would never dawn. +Anc when day broke he sat expecting his son and waited till noon, but +he came not; whereat his heart forebode separation and was fired with +fears for Kamar al-Zaman; and he cried, "Alas! my son!" and he wept +till his clothes were drenched with tears, and repeated with a beating +heart, + +"Love's votaries I ceased not to oppose, * + Till doomed to taste Love's bitter and Love's sweet: +I drained his rigour-cup to very dregs, * + Self humbled at its slaves' and freemen's feet: +Fortune had sworn to part the loves of us; * + She kept her word how truly, well I weet!" + +And when he ended his verse, he wiped away his tears and bade his +troops make ready for a march and prepare for a long expedition. So +they all mounted and set forth, headed by the Sultan, whose heart burnt +with grief and was fired with anxiety for his son Kamar al-Zaman; and +they advanced by forced marches. Now the King divided his host into six +divisions, a right wing and a left wing, a vanguard and a rear +guard;[FN#322] and bade them rendezvous for the morrow at the +cross-roads. Accordingly they separated and scoured the country all the +rest of that day till night, and they marched through the night and at +noon of the ensuing day they joined company at the place where four +roads met. But they knew not which the Prince followed, till they saw +the sign of torn clothes and sighted shreds of flesh and beheld blood +still sprinkled by the way and they noted every piece of the clothes +and fragment of mangled flesh scattered on all sides. Now when King +Shahriman saw this, he cried from his heart-core a loud cry, saying, +"Alas, my son!"; and buffeted his face and plucks his beard and rent +his raiment, doubting not but his son was dead. Then he gave himself up +to excessive weeping and wailing, and the troops also wept for his +weeping, all being assured that Prince Kamar al-Zaman had perished. +They threw dust on their heads, and the night surprised them shedding +tears and lamenting till they were like to die. Then the King with a +heart on fire and with burning sighs spake these couplets, + +"Chide not the mourner for bemourning woe; * + Enough is yearning every Ill to show: +He weeps for stress of sorrow and of pain, * + And these to thee best evidence his lowe: +Happy![FN#323] of whom Love sickness swore that ne'er * + Should cease his eye lids loving tears to flow: +He mourns the loss of fairest, fullest Moon, * + Shining o'er all his peers in glorious glow: +But death made drink a brimming cup, what day * + He fared from natal country fain to go: +His home left he and went from us to grief; * + Nor to his brethren could he say adieu: +Yea, his loss wounded me with parting pangs, * + And separation cost me many a throe: +He fared farewelling, as he fared, our eyes; * + Whenas his Lord vouch-safed him Paradise." + +And when King Shahriman had ended his verses, he returned with the +troops to his capital,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twelfth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King +Shahriman had ended his verses, he returned with the troops to his +capital, giving up his son for lost, and deeming that wild beasts or +banditti had set upon him and torn him to pieces; and made proclamation +that all in the Khalidan Islands should don black in mourning for him. +Moreover, he built, in his memory, a pavilion, naming it House of +Lamentations; and on Mondays and Thursdays he devoted himself to the +business of the state and ordering the affairs of his levies and +lieges; and the rest of the week he was wont to spend in the House of +Lamentations, mourning for his son and bewailing him with elegiac +verses,[FN#324] of which the following are some:— + +"My day of bliss is that when thou appearest; * + My day of bale[FN#325] is that whereon thou farest: +Though through the night I quake in dread of death; * + Union wi' thee is of all bliss the dearest." + +And again he said, + +"My soul be sacrifice for one, whose going * + Afflicted hearts with sufferings sore and dread: +Let joy her widowed term[FN#326] fulfil, for I * + Divorced joy with the divorce thrice-said."[FN#327] + +Such was the case with King Shahriman; but as regards Queen Budur +daughter of King Ghayur, she abode as ruler in the Ebony Islands, +whilst the folk would point to her with their fingers, and say, "Yonder +is the son-in-law of King Armanus." And every night she lay with Hayat +al-Nufus, to whom she lamented her desolate state and longing for her +husband Kamar al-Zaman; weeping and describing to her his beauty and +loveliness, and yearning to enjoy him though but in a dream: And at +times she would repeat, + +"Well Allah wots that since my severance from thee, * + I wept till forced to borrow tears at usury: +'Patience!' my blamer cried, 'Heartsease right soon shalt see!' * + Quoth I, 'Say, blamer, where may home of Patience be?'" + +This is how it fared with Queen Budur; but as regards Kamar al- Zaman, +he abode with the gardener in the garden for no short time, weeping +night and day and repeating verses bewailing the past time of enjoyment +and delight; whilst the gardener kept comforting him and assuring him +that the ship would set sail for the land of the Moslems at the end of +the year. And in this condition he continued till one day he saw the +folk crowding together and wondered at this; but the gardener came in +to him and said, "O my son, give over work for this day nor lead water +to the trees; for it is a festival day, whereon folk visit one another. +So take thy rest and only keep shine eye on the garden, whilst I go +look after the ship for thee; for yet but a little while and I send +thee to the land of the Moslems." Upon this, he went forth from the +garden leaving to himself Kamar al-Zaman, who fell to musing upon his +case till his heart was like to break and the tears streamed from his +eyes. So he wept with excessive weeping till he swooned away and, when +he recovered, he rose and walked about the garden, pondering what Time +had done with him and bewailing the long endurance of his estrangement +and separation from those he loved. As he was thus absorbed in +melancholy thought, his foot stumbled and he fell on his face, his +forehead striking against the projecting root of a tree; and the blow +cut it open and his blood ran down and mingled with his tears Then he +rose and, wiping away the blood, dried his tears and bound his brow +with a piece of rag; then continued his walk about the garden engrossed +by sad reverie. Presently, he looked up at a tree and saw two birds +quarrelling thereon, and one of them rose up and smote the other with +its beak on the neck and severed from its body its head, wherewith it +flew away, whilst the slain bird fell to the ground before Kamar +al-Zaman. As it lay, behold, two great birds swooped down upon it +alighting, one at the head and the other at the tail, and both drooped +their wings and bowed their bills over it and, extending their necks +towards it, wept. Kamar al-Zaman also wept when seeing the birds thus +bewail their mate, and called to mind his wife and father, And +Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Thirteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al- Zaman +wept and lamented his separation from spouse and sire, when he beheld +those two birds weeping over their mate. Then he looked at the twain +and saw them dig a grave and therein bury the slain bird; after which +they flew away far into the firmament and disappeared for a while; but +presently they returned with the murtherer-bird and, alighting on the +grave of the murthered, stamped on the slayer till they had done him to +death. Then they rent his belly and tearing out his entrails, poured +the blood on the grave of the slain[FN#328]: moreover, they stripped +off his skin and tare his flesh in pieces and, pulling out the rest of +the bowels, scattered them hither and thither. All this while Kamar +al-Zaman was watching them wonderingly; but presently, chancing to look +at the place where the two birds had slain the third, he saw therein +something gleaming. So he drew near to it and noted that it was the +crop of the dead bird. Whereupon he took it and opened it and found the +talisman which had been the cause of his separation from his wife. But +when he saw it and knew it, he fell to the ground a-fainting for joy; +and, when he revived, he said, "Praised be Allah! This is a foretaste +of good and a presage of reunion with my beloved." Then he examined the +jewel and passed it over his eyes[FN#329]; after which he bound it to +his forearm, rejoicing in coming weal, and walked about till nightfall +awaiting the gardener's return; and when he came not, he lay down and +slept in his wonted place. At daybreak he rose to his work and, girding +his middle with a cord of palm- fibre, took hatchet and basket and +walked down the length of the garden, till he came to a carob-tree and +struck the axe into its roots. The blow rang and resounded; so he +cleared away the soil from the place and discovered a trap-door and +raised it.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When It was the Two Hundred and Fourteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kamar +al-Zaman raised the trap-door, he found a winding stair, which he +descended and came to an ancient vault of the time of Ad and +Thamúd,[FN#330] hewn out of the rock. Round the vault stood many brazen +vessels of the bigness of a great oil-jar which he found full of +gleaming red gold: whereupon he said to himself, "Verily sorrow is gone +and solace is come!" Then he mounted from the souterrain to the garden +and, replacing the trap-door as it was before, busied himself in +conducting water to the trees till the last of the day, when the +gardener came back and said to him, "O my son, rejoice at the good +tidings of a speedy return to thy native land: the merchants are ready +equipped for the voyage and the ship in three days' time will set sail +for the City of Ebony, which is the first of the cities of the Moslems, +and after making it, thou must travel by land a six months' march till +thou come to the Islands of Khalidan, the dominions of King Shahriman." +At this Kamar al-Zaman rejoiced and began repeating, + +"Part not from one whose wont is not to part from you; * + Nor with your cruel taunts an innocent mortify: +Another so long parted had ta'en heart from you, * + And had his whole condition changed,—but not so I." + +Then he kissed the gardener's hand and said, "O my father, even as thou +hast brought me glad tidings, so I also have great good news for thee,' +and told him anent his discovery of the vault; whereat the gardener +rejoiced and said, "O my son, fourscore years have I dwelt in this +garden and have never hit on aught whilst thou, who hast not sojourned +with me a year, hast discovered this thing; wherefore it is Heaven's +gift to thee, which shall end thy crosses and aid thee to rejoin thy +folk and foregather with her thou lovest." Quoth Kamar al-Zaman, "There +is no help but it must be shared between me and thee." Then he carried +him to the underground-chamber and showed him the gold, which was in +twenty jars: he took ten and the gardener ten, and the old man said to +him, "O my son, fill thyself leather bottles[FN#331] with the +sparrow-olives[FN#332] which grow in this garden, for they are not +found except in our land; and the merchants carry them to all parts. +Lay the gold in the bottles and strew it over with olives: then stop +them and cover them and take them with thee in the ship." So Kamar +al-Zaman arose without stay or delay and took fifty leather bottles and +stored in each somewhat of the gold, and closed each one after placing +a layer of olives over the gold; and at the bottom of one of the +bottles he laid the talisman. Then sat he down to talk with the +gardener, confident of speedy reunion with his own people and saying to +himself, "When I come to the Ebony Islands I will journey thence to my +father's country and enquire for my beloved Budur. Would to Heaven I +knew whether she returned to her own land or journeyed on to my +father's country or whether there befel her any accident by the way." +And he began versifying, + +"Love in my breast they lit and fared away, * + And far the land wherein my love is pent: +Far lies the camp and those who camp therein; * + Par is her tent-shrine, where I ne'er shall tent. +Patience far deaf me when from me they fled; * + Sleep failed mine eyes, endurance was forspent: +They left and with them left my every joy, * + Wending with them, nor find I peace that went: +They made these eyes roll down love tears in flood, * + And lacking them these eyne with tears are drent. +When my taste spins once again would see them, * + When pine and expectation but augment, +In my heart's core their counterfeits I trace, * + With love and yearning to behold their grace." + +Then, while he awaited the end of the term of days, he told the +gardener the tale of the birds and what had passed between them; +whereat the hearer wondered; and they both lay down and slept till the +morning. The gardener awoke sick and abode thus two days; but on the +third day, his sickness increased on him, till they despaired of his +life and Kamar al-Zaman grieved with sore grief for him. Meanwhile +behold, the Master and his crew came and enquired for the gardener; +and, when Kamar al-Zaman told them that he was sick, they asked, "Where +be the youth who is minded to go with us to the Ebony Islands?" "He is +your servent and he standeth before you!" answered the Prince and bade +them carry the bottles of olives to the ship; so they transported them, +saying, "Make haste, thou, for the wind is fair;" and he replied, "I +hear and obey." Then he carried his provaunt on board and, returning to +bid the gardener farewell, found him in the agonies of death; so he sat +down at his head and closed his eyes, and his soul departed his body; +whereupon he laid him out and committed him to the earth unto the mercy +of Allah Almighty. Then he made for the ship but found that she had +already weighed anchor and set sail; nor did she cease to cleave the +seas till she disappeared from his sight. So he went back to whence he +came heavy-hearted with whirling head; and neither would he address a +soul nor return a reply; and reaching the garden and sitting down in +cark and care he threw dust on his head and buffeted his cheeks.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Fifteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the ship +sped on her course, Kamar al-Zaman returned to the garden in cark and +care; but- anon he rented the place of its owner and hired a man to +help him in irrigating the trees. Moreover, he repaired the trap-door +and he went to the underground chamber and bringing the rest of the +gold to grass, stowed it in other fifty bottles which he filled up with +a layer of olives. Then he enquired of the ship and they told him that +it sailed but once a year, at which his trouble of mind redoubled and +he cried sore for that which had betided him, above all for the loss of +the Princess Budur's talisman, and spent his nights and days weeping +and repealing verses. Such was his case; but as regards the ship she +sailed with a favouring wind till she reached the Ebony Islands. Now by +decree of destiny, Queen Budur was sitting at a lattice-window +overlooking the sea and saw the galley cast anchor upon the strand. At +this sight, her heart throbbed and she took horse with the Chamberlains +and Nabobs and, riding down to the shore, halted by the ship, whilst +the sailors broke bulk and bore the bales to the storehouses; after +which she called the captain to her presence and asked what he had with +him. He answered "O King, I have with me in this ship aromatic drugs +and cosmetics and healing powders and ointments and plasters and +precious metals and rich stuffs and rugs of Yemen leather, not to be +borne of mule or camel, and all manner of otters and spices and +perfumes, civet and ambergris and camphor and Sumatra aloes-wood, and +tamerinds[FN#333] and sparrow-olives to boot, such as are rare to find +in this country." When she heard talk of sparrow- olives her heart +longed for them and she said to the ship-master, "How much of olives +hast thou?" He replied, "Fifty bottles full, but their owner is not +with us, so the King shall take what he will of them." Quoth she, +"Bring them ashore, that I may see them.'' Thereupon he called to the +sailors, who brought her the fifty bottles; and she opened one and, +looking at the olives, said to the captain, "I will take the whole +fifty and pay you their value, whatso it be." He answered, "By Allah, O +my lord, they have no value in our country; moreover their shipper +tarried behind us, and he is a poor man." Asked she, "And what are they +worth here?" and he answered "A thousand dirhams." "I will take them at +a thousand," she said and bade them carry the fifty bottles to the +palace. When it was night, she called for a bottle of olives and opened +it, there being none in the room but herself and the Princess Hayat +al-Nufus. Then, placing a dish before her she turned into it the +contents of the jar, when there fell out into the dish with the olives +a heap of red gold; and she said to the Lady Hayat al-Nufus, "This is +naught but gold!" So she sent for the rest of the bottles and found +them all full of precious metal and scarce enough olives to fill a +single jar. Moreover, she sought among the gold and found therein the +talisman, which she took and examined and behold, it was that which +Kamar al- Zaman had taken from off the band of her petticoat trousers. +Thereupon she cried out for joy and slipped down in a swoon;—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Sixteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Budur +saw the talisman she cried out for joy and slipped down in a swoon; and +when she recovered she said to herself, "Verily, this talisman was the +cause of my separation from my beloved Kamar al-Zaman; but now it is an +omen of good." Then she showed it to Hayat al-Nufus and said to her, +"This was the cause of disunion and now, please Allah, it shall be the +cause of reunion." As soon as day dawned she seated herself on the +royal throne and sent for the ship-master, who came into the presence +and kissed the ground before her. Quoth she, "Where didst thou leave +the owner of these olives?" Quoth he, "O King of the age, we left him +in the land of the Magians and he is a gardener there." She rejoined, +"Except thou bring him to me, thou knowest not the harm which awaiteth +thee and thy ship." Then she bade them seal up the magazines of the +merchants and said to them, "Verily the owner of these olives hath +borrowed of me and I have a claim upon him for debt and, unless ye +bring him to me, I will without fail do you all die and seize your +goods." So they went to the captain and promised him the hire of the +ship, if he would go and return a second time, saying, "Deliver us from +this masterful tyrant." Accordingly the skipper embarked and set sail +and Allah decreed him a prosperous voyage, till he came to the Island +of the Magians and, landing by night, went up to the garden. Now the +night was long upon Kamar al-Zaman, and he sat, bethinking him of his +beloved, and bewailing what had befallen him and versifying, + +"A night whose stars refused to run their course, * + A night of those which never seem outworn: +Like Resurrection-day, of longsome length[FN#334] * + To him that watched and waited for the morn." + +Now at this moment, the captain knocked at the garden-gate, and Kamar +al-Zaman opened and went out to him, whereupon the crew seized him and +went down with him on board the ship and set sail forthright; and they +ceased not voyaging days and nights, whilst Kamar al-Zaman knew not why +they dealt thus with him; but when he questioned them they replied, +"Thou hast offended against the Lord of the Ebony Islands, the +son-in-law of King Armanus, and thou hast stolen his monies, miserable +that thou art!" Said he, "By Allah! I never entered that country nor do +I know where it is!" However, they fared on with him, till they made +the Ebony Islands and landing, carried him up to the Lady Budur, who +knew him at sight and said, "Leave him with the eunuchs, that they may +take him to the bath." Then she relieved the merchants of the embargo +and gave the captain a robe of honour worth ten thousand pieces of +gold; and, after returning to the palace, she went in that night to the +Princess Hayat al-Nufus and told her what had passed, saying, "Keep +thou my counsel, till I accomplish my purpose, and do a deed which +shall be recorded and shall be read by Kings and commoners after we be +dead and gone." And when she gave orders that they bear Kamar al-Zaman +to the bath, they did so and clad him in a royal habit so that, when he +came forth, he resembled a willow-bough or a star which shamed the +greater and lesser light[FN#335] and its glow, and his life and soul +returned to his frame. Then he repaired to the palace and went in to +the Princess Budur; and when she saw him she schooled her heart to +patience, till she should have accomplished her purpose; and she +bestowed on him Mamelukes and eunuchs, camels and mules. Moreover, she +gave him a treasury of money and she ceased not advancing him from +dignity to dignity, till she made him Lord High Treasurer and committed +to his charge all the treasures of the state; and she admitted him to +familiar favour and acquainted the Emirs with his rank and dignity. And +all loved him, for Queen Budur did not cease day by day to increase his +allowances. As for Kamar al-Zaman, he was at a loss anent the reason of +her thus honouring him; and he gave gifts and largesse out of the +abundance of the wealth; and he devoted himself to the service of King +Armanus; so that the King and all the Emirs and people, great and +small, adored him and were wont to swear by his life. Nevertheless, he +ever marvelled at the honour and favour shown him by Queen Budur and +said to himself, "By Allah, there needs must be a reason for this +affection! Peradventure, this King favoureth me not with these +immoderate favours save for some ill purpose and, therefore, there is +no help but that I crave leave of him to depart his realm." So he went +in to Queen Budur and said to her, "O King, thou hast overwhelmed me +with favours, but it will fulfil the measure of thy bounties if thou +take from me all thou hast been pleased to bestow upon me, and permit +me to depart." She smiled and asked, "What maketh thee seek to depart +and plunge into new perils, whenas thou art in the enjoyment of the +highest favour and greatest prosperity?" Answered Kamar al- Zaman, "O +King, verily this favour, if there be no reason for it, is indeed a +wonder of wonders, more by token that thou hast advanced me to +dignities such as befit men of age and experience, albeit I am as it +were a young child." And Queen Budur rejoined, "The reason is that I +love thee for shine exceeding loveliness and thy surpassing beauty; and +if thou wilt but grant me my desire of thy body, I will advance thee +yet farther in honour and favour and largesse; and I will make thee +Wazir, for all thy tender age even as the folk made me Sultan over them +and I no older than thou; so that nowadays there is nothing strange +when children take the head and by Allah, he was a gifted man who said, + +'It seems as though of Lot's tribe were our days, * + And crave with love to advance the young in years.'"[FN#336] + +When Kamar al-Zaman heard these words, he was abashed and his cheeks +flushed till they seemed a-flame; and he said, "I need not these +favours which lead to the commission of sin; I will live poor in wealth +but wealthy in virtue and honour." Quoth she, "I am not to be duped by +thy scruples, arising from prudery and coquettish ways; and Allah bless +him who saith, + +'To him I spake of coupling, but he said to me, * + How long this noyous long persistency?' +But when gold piece I showed him, he cried, * + 'Who from the Almighty Sovereign e'er shall flee?'" + +Now when Kamar al-Zaman, heard these words and understood her verses +and their import, he said, "O King, I have not the habit of these +doings, nor have I strength to bear these heavy burthens for which +elder than I have proved unable; then how will it be with my tender +age?" But she smiled at his speech and retorted, "Indeed, it is a +matter right marvellous how error springeth from the disorder of man's +intendiment!! Since thou art a boy, why standest thou in fear of sin or +the doing of things forbidden, seeing that thou art not yet come to +years of canonical responsibility; and the offences of a child incur +neither punishment nor reproof? Verily, thou hast committed thyself to +a quibble for the sake of contention, and it is thy duty to bow before +a proposal of fruition, so henceforward cease from denial and coyness, +for the commandment of Allah is a decree foreordained:[FN#337] indeed, +I have more reason than thou to fear falling and by sin to be misled; +and well inspired was he who said, + +'My prickle is big and the little one said, * + 'Thrust boldly in vitals with lion-like stroke! +Then I, ' 'Tis a sin!; and he, 'No sin to me! * + So I had him at once with a counterfeit poke."[FN#338] + +When Kamar al-Zaman heard these words, the light became darkness in his +sight and he said, "O King, thou hast in thy household fair women and +female slaves, who have not their like in this age: shall not these +suffice thee without me? Do thy will with them and let me go!" She +replied, "Thou sayest sooth, but it is not with them that one who +loveth thee can heal himself of torment and can abate his fever; for, +when tastes and inclinations are corrupted by vice, they hear and obey +other than good advice. So leave arguing and listen to what the poet +saith, + +'Seest not the bazar with its fruit in rows? * + These men are for figs and for sycamore[FN#339] those!' + +And what another saith, + +'Many whose anklet rings are dumb have tinkling belts, * + And this hath all content while that for want must wail: +Thou bidd'st me be a fool and quit thee for her charms; * + Allah forfend I leave The Faith, turn Infidel! +Nay, by thy rights of side-beard mocking all her curls, * + Nor mott nor maid[FN#340] from thee my heart shall spell.' + +And yet another, + +'O beauty's Union! love for thee's my creed, * + Free choice of Faith and eke my best desire: +Women I have forsworn for thee; so may * + Deem me all men this day a shaveling friar.'[FN#341] + +And yet another, + +'Even not beardless one with girl, nor heed * + The spy who saith to thee ''Tis an amiss!' +Far different is the girl whose feet one kisses * + And that gazelle whose feet the earth must kiss.' + +And yet another, + +'A boy of twice ten is fit for a King!' + +And yet another, + +'The penis smooth and round was made with anus best to match it, * Had +it been made for cunnus' sake it had been formed like hatchet!' + +And yet another said, + +'My soul thy sacrifice! I chose thee out * + Who art not menstruous nor oviparous: + Did I with woman mell, I should beget * + Brats till the wide wide world grew strait for us.' + +And yet another, + +'She saith (sore hurt in sense the most acute * + For she had proffered what did not besuit), +'Unless thou stroke as man should swive his wife * + Blame not when horns thy brow shall incornůte! +Thy wand seems waxen, to a limpo grown, * + And more I palm it, softer grows the brute!' + +And yet another, + +'Quoth she (for I to lie with her forbore), * + 'O folly-following fool, O fool to core: +If thou my coynte for Kiblah[FN#342] to thy coigne * + Reject, we'll shall please thee more.'[FN#343] + +And yet another, + +'She proffered me a tender coynte * + Quoth I 'I will not roger thee!' +She drew back, saying, 'From the Faith * + He turns, who's turned by Heaven's decree![FN#344] +And front wise fluttering, in one day, * + Is obsolete persistency!' +Then swung she round and shining rump * + Like silvern lump she showed me! +I cried: 'Well done, O mistress mine! * + No more am I in pain for thee; +O thou of all that Allah oped[FN#345] * + Showest me fairest victory!' + +And yet another, + +'Men craving pardon will uplift their hands; * + Women pray pardon with their legs on high: +Out on it for a pious, prayerful work! * + The Lord shall raise it in the depths to lie.'"[FN#346] + +When Kamar al-Zaman heard her quote this poetry, and was certified that +there was no escaping compliance with what willed she, he said, "O King +of the age, if thou must needs have it so, make covenant with me that +thou wilt do this thing with me but once, though it avail not to +correct thy depraved appetite, and that thou wilt never again require +this thing of me to the end of time; so perchance shall Allah purge me +of the sin." She replied "I promise thee this thing, hoping that Allah +of His favour will relent towards us and blot out our mortal offence; +for the girdle of heaven's forgiveness is not indeed so strait, but it +may compass us around and absolve us of the excess of our heinous sins +and bring us to the light of salvation out of the darkness of error; +and indeed excellently well saith the poet, + +'Of evil thing the folk suspect us twain; * + And to this thought their hearts and souls are bent: +Come, dear! let's justify and free their souls * + That wrong us; one good bout and then—repent!'''[FN#347] + +Thereupon she made him an agreement and a covenant and swore a solemn +oath by Him who is Self-existent, that this thing should befal betwixt +them but once and never again for all time, and that the desire of him +was driving her to death and perdition. So he rose up with her, on this +condition, and went with her to her own boudoir, that she might quench +the lowe of her lust, saying, "There is no Majesty, and there is no +Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This is the fated decree +of the All- powerful, the All-wise!"; and he doffed his bag-trousers, +shamefull and abashed, with the tears running from his eyes for stress +of affright. Thereat she smiled and making him mount upon a couch with +her, said to him, "After this night, thou shalt see naught that will +offend thee." Then she turned to him bussing and bosoming him and +bending calf over calf, and said to him, "Put thy hand between my +thighs to the accustomed place; so haply it may stand up to prayer +after prostration." He wept and cried, "I am not good at aught of +this," but she said, "By my life, an thou do as I bid thee, it shall +profit thee!" So he put out his hand, with vitals a-fire for confusion, +and found her thighs cooler than cream and softer than silk. The +touching of them pleasured him and he moved his hand hither and +thither, till it came to a dome abounding in good gifts and movements +and shifts, and said in himself, "Perhaps this King is a +hermaphrodite,[FN#348] neither man nor woman quite;" so he said to her, +"O King, I cannot find that thou hast a tool like the tools of men; +what then moved thee to do this deed?" Then loudly laughed Queen Budur +till she fell on her back,[FN#349] and said, "O my dearling, how +quickly thou hast forgotten the nights we have lain together!" Then she +made herself known to him, and he knew her for his wife, the Lady +Budur, daughter of King al-Ghayur, Lord of the Isles and the Seas. So +he embraced her and she embraced him, and he kissed her and she kissed +him; then they lay down on the bed of pleasure voluptuous, repeating +the words of the poet, + +"When his softly bending shape bid him close to my embrace * + Which clips him all about like the tendrils of the vine +And shed a flood of softness on the hardness of his heart, * + He yielded though at first he was minded to decline; +And dreading lest the railer's eye should light upon his form, * + Came armoured with caution to baffle his design: +His waist makes moan of hinder cheeks that weigh upon his feet * + Like heavy load of merchandise upon young camel li'en; +Girt with his glances scymitar which seemed athirst for blood, * + And clad in mail of dusky curls that show the sheeniest + shine, +His fragrance wafted happy news of footstep coming nigh, * + And to him like a bird uncaged I flew in straightest line: +I spread my cheek upon his path, beneath his sandal-shoon, * + And lo! the stibium[FN#350] of their dust healed all my hurt + of eyne. +With one embrace again I bound the banner of our loves[FN#351] * + And loosed the knot of my delight that bound in bonds + malign: +Then bade I make high festival, and straight came flocking in * + Pure joys that know not grizzled age[FN#352] nor aught of + pain and pine: +The full moon dotted with the stars the lips and pearly teeth * + That dance right joyously upon the bubbling face of wine: +So in the prayer-niche of their joys I yielded me to what * + Would make the humblest penitent of sinner most indign. +I swear by all the signs[FN#353] of those glories in his face * + I'll ne'er forget the Chapter entituled Al-Ikhlas."[FN#354] + +Then Queen Budur told Kamar al-Zaman all that had befallen her from +beginning to end and he did likewise; after which he began to upbraid +her, saying, "What moved thee to deal with me as thou hast done this +night?" She replied, "Pardon me! for I did this by way of jest, and +that pleasure and gladness might be increased." And when dawned the +morn and day arose with its sheen and shone, she sent to King Armanus, +sire of the Lady Hayat al-Nufus, and acquainted him with the truth of +the case and that she was wife to Kamar al-Zaman. Moreover, she told +him their tale and the cause of their separation, and how his daughter +was a virgin, pure as when she was born. He marvelled at their story +with exceeding marvel and bade them chronicle it in letters of gold. +Then he turned to Kamar al-Zaman and said, "O King's son, art thou +minded to become my son-in-law by marrying my daughter?" Replied he, "I +must consult the Queen Budur, as she hath a claim upon me for benefits +without stint." And when he took counsel with her, she said, "Right is +thy recking; marry her and I will be her handmaid; for I am her debtor +for kindness and favour and good offices, and obligations manifold, +especially as we are here in her place and as the King her father hath +whelmed us with benefits."[FN#355] Now when he saw that she inclined to +this and was not jealous of Hayat al-Nufus, he agreed with her upon +this matter.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Seventeenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Kamar al- Zaman +agreed with his wife, Queen Budur, upon this matter and told King +Armanus what she had said; whereat he rejoiced with great joy. Then he +went out and, seating himself upon his chair of estate, assembled all +the Wazirs, Emirs, Chamberlains and Grandees, to whom he related the +whole story of Kamar al-Zaman and his wife, Queen Budur, from first to +last; and acquainted them with his desire to marry his daughter Hayat +al-Nufus to the Prince and make him King in the stead of Queen Budur. +Whereupon said they all, "Since he is the husband of Queen Budur, who +hath been our King till now, whilst we deemed her son-in-law to King +Armanus, we are all content to have him to Sultan over us; and we will +be his servants, nor will we swerve from his allegiance." So Armanus +rejoiced hereat and, summoning Kazis and witnesses and the chief +officers of state, bade draw up the contract of marriage between Kamar +al-Zaman and his daughter, the Princess Hayat al-Nufus. Then he held +high festival, giving sumptuous marriage-feasts and bestowing costly +dresses of honour upon all the Emirs and Captains of the host; moreover +he distributed alms to the poor and needy and set free all the +prisoners. The whole world rejoiced in the coming of Kamar al-Zaman to +the throne, blessing him and wishing him endurance of glory and +prosperity, renown and felicity; and, as soon as he became King, he +remitted the customs-dues and released all men who remained in gaol. +Thus he abode a long while, ordering himself worthily towards his +lieges; and he lived with his two wives in peace, happiness, constancy +and content, lying the night with each of them in turn. He ceased not +after this fashion during many years, for indeed all his troubles and +afflictions were blotted out from him and he forgot his father King +Shahriman and his former estate of honour and favour with him. After a +while Almighty Allah blessed him with two boy children, as they were +two shining moons, through his two wives; the elder whose name was +Prince Amjad,[FN#356] by Queen Budur, and the younger whose name was +Prince As'ad by Queen Hayat al-Nufus; and this one was comelier than +his brother. They were reared in splendour and tender affection, in +respectful bearing and in the perfection of training; and they were +instructed in penmanship and science and the arts of government and +horsemanship, till they attained the extreme accomplishments and the +utmost limit of beauty and loveliness; both men and women being +ravished by their charms. They grew up side by side till they reached +the age of seventeen, eating and drinking together and sleeping in one +bed, nor ever parting at any time or tide; wherefore all the people +envied them. Now when they came to man's estate and were endowed with +every perfection, their father was wont, as often as he went on a +journey, to make them sit in his stead by turns in the hall of +judgement; and each did justice among the folk one day at a time. But +it came to pass, by confirmed fate and determined lot, that love for +As'ad (son of Queen Hayat al-Nufus) rose in the heart of Queen Budur, +and that affection for Amjad (son of Queen Budur) rose in the heart of +Queen Hayat al-Nufus.[FN#357] Hence it was that each of the women used +to sport and play with the son of her sister-wife, kissing him and +straining him to her bosom, whilst each mother thought that the other's +behaviour arose but from maternal affection. On this wise passion got +the mastery of the two women's hearts and they became madly in love +with the two youths, so that when the other's son came in to either of +them, she would press him to her breast and long for him never to be +parted from her; till, at last, when waiting grew longsome to them and +they found no path to enjoyment, they refused meat and drink and +banished the solace of sleep. Presently, the King fared forth to course +and chase, bidding his two sons sit to do justice in his stead, each +one day in turn as was their wont.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Eighteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King fared +forth to sport and hunt, bidding his two sons sit to do justice in his +stead, each one day by turn, as was their wont. Now Prince Amjad sat in +judgement the first day, bidding and forbidding, appointing and +deposing, giving and refusing; and Queen Hayat al-Nufus, mother of +As'ad, wrote to him a letter suing for his favour and discovering to +him her passion and devotion; altogether put tiny off the mask and +giving him to know that she desired to enjoy him. So she took a scroll +and thereon indited these cadences, "From the love deranged * the +sorrowful and estranged * whose torment is prolonged for the longing of +thee! * Were I to recount to thee the extent of my care * and what of +sadness I bear * the passion which my heart cloth tear * and all that I +endure for weeping and unrest * and the rending of my sorrowful breast +* my unremitting grief * and my woe without relief * and all my +suffering for severance of thee * and sadness and love's ardency * no +letter could contain it; nor calculation could compass it * Indeed +earth and heaven upon me are strait; and I have no hope and no trust +but what from thee I await * Upon death I am come nigh * and the +horrors of dissolution I aby * Burning upon me is sore * with parting +pangs and estrangement galore * Were I to set forth the yearnings that +possess me more and more * no scrolls would suffice to hold such store +* and of the excess of my pain and pine, I have made the following +lines:- - + +Were I to dwell on heart-consuming heat, * + Unease and transports in my spins meet, +Nothing were left of ink and reeden pen * + Nor aught of paper; no, not e'en a sheet. + +Then Queen Hayat al-Nufus wrapped up her letter in a niece of costly +silk scented with musk and ambergris; and folded it up with her silken +hair-strings[FN#358] whose cost swallowed down treasures laid it in a +handkerchief and gave it to a eunuch bidding him bear it to Prince +Amjad.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Nineteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that she gave her +missive to the eunuch in waiting and bade him bear it to Prince Amjad. +And that eunuch went forth ignoring what the future hid for him (for +the Omniscient ordereth events even as He willeth); and, going in to +the Prince, kissed the ground between his hands and handed to him the +letter. On receiving the kerchief he opened it and, reading the epistle +and recognizing its gist he was ware that his father's wife was +essentially an adulteress and a traitress at heart to her husband, King +Kamar al-Zaman. So he waxed wroth with exceeding wrath and railed at +women and their works, saying, "Allah curse women, the traitresses, the +imperfect in reason and religion!"[FN#359] Then he drew his sword and +said to the eunuch, "Out on thee, thou wicked slave! Dost thou carry +messages of disloyalty for thy lord's wife? By Allah, there is no good +in thee, O black of hue and heart, O foul of face and Nature's +forming!" So he smote him on the neck and severed his head from his +body; then, folding the kerchief over its contents he thrust it into +his breast pocket and went in to his own mother and told her what had +passed, reviling and reproaching her, and saying, "Each one of you is +viler than the other; and, by Allah the Great and Glorious, did I not +fear ill-manneredly to transgress against the rights of my father, +Kamar al-Zaman, and my brother, Prince As'ad, I would assuredly go in +to her and cut off her head, even as I cut off that of her eunuch!" +Then he went forth from his mother in a mighty rage; and when the news +reached Queen Hayat al-Nufus of what he had done with her eunuch, she +abused him[FN#360] and cursed him and plotted perfidy against him. He +passed the night, sick with rage, wrath and concern; nor found he +pleasure in meat, drink or sleep. And when the next morning dawned +Prince As'ad fared forth in his turn to rule the folk in his father's +stead, whilst his mother, Hayat al-Nufus, awoke in feeble plight +because of what she had heard from Prince Amjad concerning the +slaughter of her eunuch. So Prince As'ad sat in the audience-chamber +that day, judging and administering justice, appointing and deposing, +bidding and forbidding, giving and bestowing. And he ceased not thus +till near the time of afternoon-prayer, when Queen Budur sent for a +crafty old woman and, discovering to her what was in her heart, wrote a +letter to Prince As'ad, complaining of the excess of her affection and +desire for him in these cadenced lines, "From her who perisheth for +passion and love-forlorn * to him who in nature and culture is +goodliest born * to him who is conceited of his own loveliness * and +glories in his amorous grace * who from those that seek to enjoy him +averteth his face * and refuseth to show favour unto the self abasing +and base * him who is cruel and of disdainful mood * from the lover +despairing of good * to Prince As'ad * with passing beauty endowed * +and of excelling grace proud * of the face moon bright * and the brow +flower-white * and dazzling splendid light * This is my letter to him +whose love melteth my body * and rendeth my skin and bones! * Know that +my patience faileth me quite * and I am perplexed in my plight * +longing and restlessness weary me * and sleep and patience deny +themselves to me * but mourning and watching stick fast to me * and +desire and passion torment me * and the extremes of languor and +sickness have sheet me * Yet may my life be a ransom for thee * albeit +thy pleasure be to slay her who loveth thee * and Allah prolong the +life of thee * and preserve thee from all infirmity!" And after these +cadences she wrote these couplets, + +"Fate hath commanded I become thy fere, * + O shining like full moon when clearest clear! +All beauty dost embrace, all eloquence; * + Brighter than aught within our worldly sphere: +Content am I my torturer thou be: * + Haply shalt alms me with one lovely leer! +Happy her death who dieth for thy love! * + No good in her who holdeth thee unclear!" + +And also the following couplets, + +"Unto thee, As'ad! I of passion-pangs complain; * + Have ruth on slave of love so burnt with flaming pain: +How long, I ask, shall hands of Love disport with me, * + With longings, dolour, sleepliness and bale and bane? +Anon I 'plain of sea in heart, anon of fire * + In vitals, O strange case, dear wish, my fairest fain! +O blamer, cease thy blame, and seek thyself to fly * + From love, which makes these eyne a rill of tears to rain. +How oft I cry for absence and desire, Ah grief! * + But all my crying naught of gain for me shall gain: +Thy rigours dealt me sickness passing power to bear, * + Thou art my only leach, assain me an thou deign! +O chider, chide me not in caution, for I doubt * + That plaguey Love to thee shall also deal a bout." + +Then Queen Budur perfumed the letter-paper with a profusion of +odoriferous musk and, winding it in her hairstrings which were of Iraki +silk, with pendants of oblong emeralds, set with pearls and stones of +price, delivered it to the old woman, bidding her carry it to Prince +As'ad.[FN#361] She did so in order to pleasure her, and going in to the +Prince, straightway and without stay, found him in his own rooms and +delivered to him the letter in privacy; after which she stood waiting +an hour or so for the answer. When As'ad had read the paper and knew +its purport, he wrapped it up again in the ribbons and put it in his +bosom-pocket: then (for he was wrath beyond all measure of wrath) he +cursed false women and sprang up and drawing his sword, smote the old +trot on the neck and cut off her pate. Thereupon he went in to his +mother, Queen Hayat al-Nufus, whom he found lying on her bed in feeble +case, for that which had betided her with Prince Amjad, and railed at +her and cursed her; after which he left her and fore-gathered with his +brother, to whom he related all that had befallen him with Queen Budur, +adding, "By Allah, O my brother, but that I was ashamed before thee, I +had gone in to her forthright and had smitten her head off her +shoulders!" Replied Prince Amjad, "By Allah, O my brother, yesterday +when I was sitting upon the seat of judgement, the like of what hath +befallen thee this day befel me also with thy mother who sent me a +letter of similar purport." And he told him all that had passed, +adding, "By Allah, O my brother, naught but respect for thee withheld +me from going in to her and dealing with her even as I dealt with the +eunuch!" They passed the rest of the night conversing and cursing +womankind, and agreed to keep the matter secret, lest their father +should hear of it and kill the two women. Yet they ceased not to suffer +trouble and foresee affliction. And when the morrow dawned, the King +returned with his suite from hunting and sat awhile in his chair of +estate; after which he sent the Emirs about their business and went up +to his palace, where he found his two wives lying a-bed and both +exceeding sick and weak. Now they had made a plot against their two +sons and concerted to do away their lives, for that they had exposed +themselves before them and feared to be at their mercy and dependent +upon their forbearance. When Kamar al-Zaman saw them on this wise, he +said to them, "What aileth you?" Whereupon they rose to him and kissing +his hands answered, perverting the case and saying "Know, O King, that +thy two sons, who have been reared in thy bounty, have played thee +false and have dishonoured thee in the persons of thy wives." Now when +he heard this, the light became darkness in his sight, and he raged +with such wrath that his reason fled: then said he to them, "Explain me +this matter." Replied Queen Budur, "O King of the age, know that these +many days past thy son As'ad hath been in the persistent habit of +sending me letters and messages to solicit me to lewdness and adultery +while I still forbade him from this, but he would not be forbidden; +and, when thou wentest forth to hunt, he rushed in on me, drunk and +with a drawn sword in his hand, and smiting my eunuch, slew him. Then +he mounted on my breast, still holding the sword, and I feared lest he +should slay me, if I gainsaid him, even as he had slain my eunuch; so +he took his wicked will of me by force. And now if thou do me not +justice on him, O King, I will slay myself with my own hand, for I have +no need of life in the world after this foul deed." And Queen Hayat +al-Nufus, choking with tears, told him respecting Prince Amjad a story +like that of her sister-wife.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twentieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Queen Hayat +al-Nufus told her husband, King Kamar al-Zaman, a story like that of +her sister in wedlock, Budur, and, quoth she, "The same thing befel me +with thy son Amjad;" after which she took to weeping and wailing and +said, "Except thou do me justice on him I will tell my father, King +Armanus." Then both women wept with sore weeping before King Kamar +al-Zaman who, when he saw their tears and heard their words, concluded +that their story was true and, waxing wroth beyond measure of wrath, +went forth thinking to fall upon his two sons and put them to death. On +his way he met his father- in-law, King Armanus who, hearing of his +return from the chase, had come to salute him at that very hour and, +seeing him with naked brand in hand and blood dripping from his +nostrils, for excess of rage, asked what ailed him. So Kamar al-Zaman +told him all that his sons Amjad and As'ad had done and added, "And +here I am now going in to them to slay them in the foulest way and make +of them the most shameful of examples." Quoth King Armanus (and indeed +he too was wroth with them), "Thou dost well, O my son, and may Allah +not bless them nor any sons that do such deed against their father's +honour. But, O my son, the sayer of the old saw saith, 'Whoso looketh +not to the end hath not Fortune to friend.' In any case, they are thy +sons, and it befitteth not that thou kill them with shine own hand, +lest thou drink of their death-agony,[FN#362] and anon repent of having +slain them whenas repentance availeth thee naught. Rather do thou send +them with one of thy Mamelukes into the desert and let him kill them +there out of thy sight, for, as saith the adage, 'Out of sight of my +friend is better and pleasanter.'[FN#363] And when Kamar al-Zaman heard +his father-in-law's words, he knew them to be just; so he sheathed his +sword and turning back, sat down upon the throne of his realm. There he +summoned his treasurer, a very old man, versed in affairs and in +fortune's vicissitudes, to whom he said, "Go in to my sons, Amjad and +As'ad; bind their hands behind them with strong bonds, lay them in two +chests and load them upon a mule. Then take horse thou and carry them +into mid desert, where do thou kill them both and fill two vials with +their blood and bring the same to me in haste." Replied the treasurer, +"I hear and I obey," and he rose up hurriedly and went out forthright +to seek the Princes; and, on his road, he met them coming out of the +palace-vestibule, for they had donned their best clothes and their +richest; and they were on their way to salute their sire and give him +joy of his safe return from his going forth to hunt. Now when he saw +them, he laid hands on them, saying, "Omy sons, know ye that I am but a +slave commanded, and that your father hath laid a commandment on me; +will ye obey his commandment?" They said, "Yes"; whereupon he went up +to them and, after pinioning their arms, laid them in the chests which +he loaded on the back of a mule he had taken from the city. And he +ceased not carrying them into the open country till near noon, when he +halted in a waste and desolate place and, dismounting from his mare, +let down the two chests from the mule's back. Then he opened them and +took out Amjad and As'ad; and when he looked upon them he wept sore for +their beauty and loveliness; then drawing his sword he said to them, +"By Allah, O my lords, indeed it is hard for me to deal so evilly by +you; but I am to be excused in this matter, being but a slave +commanded, for that your father King Kamar al-Zaman hath bidden me +strike off your heads." They replied, "O Emir, do the King's bidding, +for we bear with patience that which Allah (to Whom be Honour, Might +and Glory!) hath decreed to us; and thou art quit of our blood." Then +they embraced and bade each other farewell, and As'ad said to the +treasurer, "Allah upon thee, O uncle, spare me the sight of my +brother's death-agony and make me not drink of his anguish, but kill me +first, for that were the easier for me." And Amjad said the like and +entreated the treasurer to kill him before As'ad, saying, "My brother +is younger than I; so make me not taste of his anguish. And they both +wept bitter tears whilst the treasurer wept for their weeping;—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twenty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the treasurer +wept for their weeping; then the two brothers embraced and bade +farewell and one said to the other, "All this cometh of the malice of +those traitresses, my mother and thy mother; and this is the reward of +my forbearance towards thy mother and of thy for bearance towards my +mother! But there is no Might and there is no Majesty save in Allah, +the Glorious, the Great! Verily, we are Allah's and unto Him we are +returning."[FN#364] And As'ad em braced his brother, sobbing and +repeating these couplets, + +"O Thou to whom sad trembling wights in fear complain! * + O ever ready whatso cometh to sustain! +The sole resource for me is at Thy door to knock, * + At whose door knock an Thou to open wilt not deign? +O Thou whose grace is treasured in the one word, Be![FN#365] * + Favour me, I beseech, in Thee all weals contain." + +Now when Amjad heard his brother's weeping he wept also and pressing +him to his bosom repeated these two couplets, + +"O Thou whose boons to me are more than one! * + Whose gifts and favours have nor count nor bound! +No stroke of all Fate's strokes e'er fell on me, * + But Thee to take me by the hand I found." + +Then said Amjad to the treasurer, "I conjure thee by the One, +Omnipotent, the Lord of Mercy, the Beneficent! slay me before my +brother As'ad, so haply shall the fire be quencht in my heart's core +and in this life burn no more." But As'ad wept and exclaimed, "Not so: +I will die first;" whereupon quoth Amjad, "It were best that I embrace +thee and thou embrace me, so the sword may fall upon us and slay us +both at a single stroke." Thereupon they embraced, face to face and +clung to each other straitly, whilst the treasurer tied up the twain +and bound them fast with cords, weeping the while. Then he drew his +blade and said to them, "By Allah, O my lords, it is indeed hard to me +to slay you! But have ye no last wishes that I may fulfil or charges +which I may carry out, or message which I may deliver?" Replied Amjad, +"We have no wish; and my only charge to thee is that thou set my +brother below and me above him, that the blow may fall on me first, and +when thou hast killed us and returnest to the King and he asketh thee, +'What heardest thou from them before their death?'; do thou answer, +'Verily thy sons salute thee and say to thee, Thou knewest not if we +were innocent or guilty, yet hast thou put us to death and hast not +certified thyself of our sin nor looked into our case.' Then do thou +repeat to him these two couplets, + +'Women are Satans made for woe o' men; * + I fly to Allah from their devilish scathe: +Source of whatever bale befel our kind, * + In wordly matters and in things of Faith.'" + +Continued Amjad, "We desire of thee naught but that thou repeat to our +sire these two couplets."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was ad the Two Hundred and Twenty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Amjad added, +speaking to the treasurer, "We desire of thee naught but that thou +repeat to our sire these two couplets which thou hast just now heard; +and I conjure thee by Allah to have patience with us, whilst I cite to +my brother this other pair of couplets." Then he wept with sore weeping +and began, + +"The Kings who fared before us showed * + Of instances full many a show: +Of great and small and high and low * + How many this one road have trod!" + +Now when the treasurer heard these words from Amjad, he wept till his +beard was wet, whilst As'ad's eyes brimmed with tears and he in turn +repeated these couplets, + +"Fate frights us when the thing is past and gone; * + Weeping is not for form or face alone[FN#366]: +What ails the Nights?[FN#367] Allah blot out our sin, * + And be the Nights by other hand undone! +Ere this Zubayr-son[FN#368] felt their spiteful hate, * + Who fled for refuge to the House and Stone: +Would that when Khárijah was for Amru slain[FN#369] * + They had ransomed Ali with all men they own." + +Then, with cheeks stained by tears down railing he recited also these +verses, + +"In sooth the Nights and Days are charactered * + By traitor falsehood and as knaves they lie; +The Desert-reek[FN#370] recalls their teeth that shine; * + All horrid blackness is their K of eye: +My sin anent the world which I abhor * + Is sin of sword when sworders fighting hie." + +Then his sobs waxed louder and he said, + +"O thou who woo'st a World[FN#371] unworthy, learn * + 'Tis house of evils, 'tis Perdition's net: +A house where whoso laughs this day shall weep * + The next: then perish house of fume and fret! +Endless its frays and forays, and its thralls * + Are ne'er redeemed, while endless risks beset. +How many gloried in its pomps and pride, * + Till proud and pompous did all bounds forget, +Then showing back of shield she made them swill[FN#372] * + Full draught, and claimed all her vengeance debt. +For know her strokes fall swift and sure, altho' * + Long bide she and forslow the course of Fate: +So look thou to thy days lest life go by * + Idly, and meet thou more than thou hast met; +And cut all chains of world-love and desire * + And save thy soul and rise to secrets higher." + +Now when As'ad made an end of these verses, he strained his brother +Amjad in his arms, till they twain were one body, and the treasurer, +drawing his sword, was about to strike them, when behold, his steed +took fright at the wind of his upraised hand, and breaking its tether, +fled into the desert. Now the horse had cost a thousand gold pieces and +on its back was a splendid saddle worth much money; so the treasurer +threw down his sword, and ran after his beast.—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twenty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when his horse +ran away, the treasurer ran after it in huge concern, and ceased not +running to catch the runaway till it entered a thicket. He followed it +whilst it dashed through the wood, smiting the earth with its hoofs +till it raised a dust-cloud which towered high in air; and snorting and +puffing and neighing and waxing fierce and furious. Now there happened +to be in this thicket a lion of terrible might; hideous to sight, with +eyes sparkling light: his look was grim and his aspect struck fright +into man's sprite. Presentry the treasurer turned and saw the lion +making towards him; but found no way of escape nor had he his sword +with him. So he said in himself, "There is no Majesty and there is no +Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This strait is come upon +me for no other cause but because of Amjad and As'ad; and indeed this +journey was unblest from the first!" Meanwhile the two Princes were +grievously oppressed by the heat and grew sore athirst, so that their +tongues hung out and they cried for succour, but none came to their +relief and they said, "Would to Heaven we had been slain and were at +peace from this pain! But we know not whither the horse hath fled, that +the treasurer is gone and hath left us thus pinioned. If he would but +come back and do us die, it were easier to us than this torture to +aby." Said As'ad, "O my brother, be patient, and the relief of Allah +(extolled and exalted be He!) shall assuredly come to us; for the horse +started not away save of His favour towards us, and naught irketh us +but this thirst." Upon this he stretched and shook himself and strained +right and left, till he burst his pinion-bonds; then he rose and +unbound his brother and catching up the Emir's sword, said, "By Allah, +we will not go hence, till we look after him and learn what is become +of him." Then they took to following on the trail till it led them to +the thicket and they said to each other, "Of a surety, the horse and +the treasurer have not passed out of this wood." Quoth As'ad, "Stay +thou here, whilst I enter the thicket and search it;" and Amjad +replied, "I will not let thee go in alone: nor will we enter it but +together; so if we escape, we shall escape together and if we perish, +we shall perish together." Accordingly both entered and found that the +lion had sprang upon the treasurer, who lay like a sparrow in his grip, +calling upon Allah for aid and signing with his hands to Heaven. Now +when Amjad saw this, he took the sword and, rushing upon the lion, +smote him between the eyes and laid him dead on the ground. The Emir +sprang up, marvelling at this escape and seeing Amjad and As'ad, his +master's sons, standing there, cast himself at their feet and +exclaimed, "By Allah, O my lords, it were intolerable wrong in me to do +you to death. May the man never be who would kill you! Indeed, with my +very life, I will ransom you."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the +treasurer to Amjad and As'ad, "With my life will I ransom you both!" +Then he hastily rose and, at once embracing them, enquired how they had +loosed their bonds and come thither; whereupon they told him how the +bonds of one of them had fallen loose and he had unbound the other, +whereto they were helped by the purity of their intentions, and how +they had tracked his trail till they came upon him. So he thanked them +for their deed and went with them forth of the thicket; and, when they +were in the open country, they said to him, "O uncle, do our father's +bidding." He replied, "Allah forbid that I should draw near to you with +hurt! But know ye that I mean to take your clothes and clothe you with +mine; then will I fill two vials with the lion's blood and go back to +the King and tell him I have out vou to death. But as for you two, fare +ye forth into the lands, for Allah's earth is wide; and know, O my +lords, that it paineth me to part from you." At this, they all fell +a-weeping; then the two youths put off their clothes and the treasurer +habited them with his own. Moreover he made two parcels of their dress +and, filling two vials with the lion's blood, set the parcels before +him on his horse's back. Presently he took leave of them and, making +his way to the city, ceased not faring till he went in to King Kamar +al-Zaman and kissed the ground between his hands. The King saw him +changed in face and troubled (which arose from his adventure with the +lion) and, deeming this came of the slaughter of his two sons, rejoiced +and said to him, "Hast thou done the work?" "Yes, O our lord," replied +the treasurer and gave him the two parcels of clothes and the two vials +full of blood. Asked the King, "What didst thou observe in them; and +did they give thee any charge?" Answered the treasurer, "I found them +patient and resigned to what came down upon them and they said to me, +'Verily, our father is excusable; bear him our salutation and say to +him, 'Thou art quit of our killing. But we charge thee repeat to him +these couplets, + +'Verily women are devils created for us. We seek refuge with God from +the artifice of the devils. They are the source of all the misfortunes +that have appeared among mankind in the affairs of the world and of +religion.'''[FN#373] + +When the King heard these words of the treasurer, he bowed his head +earthwards, a long while and knew his sons' words to mean that they had +been wrongfully put to death. Then he bethought himself of the perfidy +of women and the calamities brought about by them; and he took the two +parcels and opened them and fell to turning over his sons' clothes and +weeping,—And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Kamar +la-Zaman opened the two bundles and fell to turning over his sons' +clothes and weeping, it so came to pass that he found, in the pocket of +his son As'ad's raiment, a letter in the hand of his wife enclosing her +hair strings; so he opened and read it and understanding the contents +knew that the Prince had been falsely accused and wrongously. Then he +searched Amjad's parcel of dress and found in his pocket a letter in +the handwriting of Queen Hayat al-Nufus enclosing also her +hair-strings; so he opened and read it and knew that Amjad too had been +wronged; whereupon he beat hand upon hand and exclaimed, "There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I +have slain my sons unjustly." And he buffeted his face, crying out, +"Alas, my sons! Alas, my long grief!" Then he bade them build two tombs +in one house, which he styled "House of Lamentations," and had graved +thereon his sons' names; and he threw himself on Amjad's tomb, weeping +and groaning and lamenting, and improvised these couplets, + +"O moon for ever set this earth below, * + Whose loss bewail the stars which stud the sky! +O wand, which broken, ne'er with bend and wave * + Shall fascinate the ravisht gazer's eye; +These eyne for jealousy I 'reft of thee, * + Nor shall they till next life thy sight descry: +I'm drowned in sea of tears for insomny * + Wherefore, indeed in Sáhirah-stead[FN#374] I lie." + +Then he threw himself on As'ad's tomb, groaning and weeping and +lamenting and versifying with these couplets, + +"Indeed I longed to share unweal with thee, * + But Allah than my will willed otherwise: +My grief all blackens 'twixt mine eyes and space, * + Yet whitens all the blackness from mine eyes:[FN#375] +Of tears they weep these eyne run never dry, * + And ulcerous flow in vitals never dries: +Right sore it irks me seeing thee in stead[FN#376] * + Where slave with sovran for once levelled lies." + +And his weeping and wailing redoubled; and, after he had ended his +lamentations and his verse, he forsook his friends and intimates, and +denying himself to his women and his family, cut himself off from the +world in the House of Lamentations, where he passed his time in weeping +for his sons. Such was his case; but as regards Amjad and As'ad they +fared on into the desert eating of the fruits of the earth and drinking +of the remnants of the rain for a full month, till their travel brought +them to a mountain of black flint[FN#377] whose further end was +unknown; and here the road forked, one line lying along the midway +height and the other leading to its head. They took the way trending to +the top and gave not over following it five days, but saw no end to it +and were overcome with weariness, being unused to walking upon the +mountains or elsewhere.[FN#378] At last, despairing of coming to the +last of the road, they retraced their steps and, taking the other, that +led over the midway heights,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princes Amjad and +As'ad returned from the path leading to the Mountain- head and took +that which ran along the midway heights, and walked through all that +day till nightfall, when As'ad, weary with much travel, said to Amjad, +"O my brother, I can walk no farther, for I am exceeding weak." Replied +Amjad, "O my brother, take courage! May be Allah will send us relief." +So they walked on part of the night, till the darkness closed in upon +them, when As'ad became weary beyond measure of weariness and cried +out, "O my brother, I am worn out and spent with walking," and threw +himself upon the ground and wept. Amjad took him in his arms and walked +on with him, bytimes sitting down to rest till break of day, when they +came to the mountain-top and found there a stream of running water and +by it a pomegranate-tree and a prayer-niche.[FN#379] They could hardly +believe their eyes when they saw it; but, sitting down by that spring, +drank of its water and ate of the fruit of that granado-tree; after +which they lay on the ground and slept till sunrise, when they washed +and bathed in the spring and, eating of the pomegranates, slept again +till the time of mid-afternoon prayer. Then they thought to continue +their journey, but As'ad could not walk, for both his feet were +swollen. So they abode there three days till they were rested, after +which they set out again and fared on over the mountain days and +nights, tortured by and like to die of thirst, till they sighted a city +gleaming afar off, at which they rejoiced and made towards it. When +they drew near it, they thanked Allah (be His Name exalted!) and Amjad +said to As'ad, "O my brother, sit here, whilst I go to yonder city and +see what it is and whose it is and where we are in Allah's wide world, +that we may know through what lands we have passed in crossing this +mountain, whose skirts had we followed, we had not reached this city in +a whole year. So praised be Allah for safety!" Replied As'ad, "By +Allah, O my brother, none shall go down into that city save myself, and +may I be thy ransom! If thou leave me alone, be it only for an hour, I +shall imagine a thousand things and be drowned in a torrent of anxiety +on shine account, for I cannot brook shine absence from me." Amjad +rejoined, "Go then and tarry not. So As'ad took some gold pieces, and +leaving his brother to await him, descended the mountain and ceased not +faring on till he entered the city. As he threaded the streets he was +met by an old man age-decrepit, whose beard flowed down upon his breast +and forked in twain;[FN#380] he bore a walking-staff in his hand and +was richly clad, with a great red turband on his head. When As'ad saw +him, he wondered at his dress and his mien; nevertheless, he went up to +him and saluting him said, "Where be the way to the market, O my +master?" Hearing these words the Shaykh smiled in his face and replied, +"O my son, meseemeth thou art a stranger?" As'ad rejoined, "Yes, I am a +stranger."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Shaykh who +met As'ad smiled in his face and said to him, "O my son, meseemeth thou +art a stranger?" and As'ad replied, "Yes, I am a stranger." Then +rejoined the old man, "Verily, thou gladdenest our country with thy +presence, O my son, and thou desolatest shine own land by reason of +shine absence. What wantest thou of the market?" Quoth As'ad, "O uncle, +I have a brother, with whom I have come from a far land and with whom I +have journeyed these three months; and, when we sighted this city, I +left him, who is my elder brother, upon the mountain and came hither, +purposing to buy victual and what else, and return therewith to him, +that we might feed thereon." Said the old man, "Rejoice in all good, O +my son, and know thou that to-day I give a marriage-feast, to which I +have bidden many guests, and I have made ready plenty of meats, the +best and most delicious that heart can desire. So if thou wilt come +with me to my place, I will give thee freely all thou lackest without +asking thee a price or aught else. Moreover I will teach thee the ways +of this city; and, praised be Allah, O my son, that I, and none other +have happened upon thee." "As thou wilt," answered As'ad, "do as thou +art disposed, but make haste, for indeed my brother awaiteth me and his +whole heart is with me." The old man took As'ad by the hand and carried +him to a narrow lane, smiling in his face and saying, "Glory be to Him +who hath delivered thee from the people of this city!" And he ceased +not walking till he entered a spacious house, wherein was a saloon and +behold, in the middle of it were forty old men, well stricken in years, +collected together and forming a single ring as they sat round about a +lighted fire, to which they were doing worship and prostrating +themselves.[FN#381] When As'ad saw this, he was confounded and the hair +of his body stood on end though he knew not what they were; and the +Shaykh said to them, "O Elders of the Fire, how blessed is this day!" +Then he called aloud, saying, "Hello, Ghazbán!" Whereupon there came +out to him a tall black slave of frightful aspect, grim-visaged and +flat nosed as an ape who, when the old man made a sign to him, bent +As'ad's arms behind his back and pinioned them; after which the Shaykh +said to him, "Let him down into the vault under the earth and there +leave him and say to my slave girl Such-an-one, 'Torture him night and +day and give him a cake of bread to eat morning and evening against the +time come of the voyage to the Blue Sea and the Mountain of Fire, +whereon we will slaughter him as a sacrifice.'" So the black carried +him out at another door and, raising a flag in the floor, discovered a +flight of twenty steps leading to a chamber[FN#382] under the earth, +into which he descended with him and, laying his feet in irons, gave +him over to the slave girl and went away. Meanwhile, the old men said +to one another, "When the day of the Festival of the Fire cometh, we +will sacrifice him on the mountain, as a propitiatory offering whereby +we shall pleasure the Fire." Presently the damsel went down to him and +beat him a grievous beating, till streams of blood flowed from his +sides and he fainted; after which she set at his head a scone of bread +and a cruse of brackish water and went away and left him. In the middle +of the night, he revived and found himself bound and beaten and sore +with beating: so he wept bitter tears; and recalling his former +condition of honour and prosperity, lordship and dominion, and his +separation from his sire and his exile from his native land.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say, + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when As'ad found +himself bound and beaten and sore with beating he recalled his whilome +condition of honour and prosperity and dominion and lordship, and he +wept and groaned aloud and recited these couplets, + +"Stand by the ruined stead and ask of us; * + Nor deem we dwell there as was state of us: +The World, that parter, hath departed us; * + Yet soothes not hate-full hearts the fate of us: +With whips a cursed slave girl scourges us, * + And teems her breast with rancorous hate of us: +Allah shall haply deign to unpart our lives, * + Chastise our foes, and end this strait of us." + +And when As'ad had spoken his poetry, he put out his hand towards his +head and finding there the crust and the cruse full of brackish water +he ate a bittock, just enough to keep life in him, and drank a little +water, but could get no sleep till morning for the swarms of +bugs[FN#383] and lice. As soon as it was day, the slave girl came down +to him and changed his clothes, which were drenched with blood and +stuck to him, so that his skin came off with the shirt; wherefor he +shrieked aloud and cried, "Alas!" and said, "O my God, if this be Thy +pleasure, increase it upon me! O Lord, verily Thou art not unmindful of +him that oppresseth me; do Thou then avenge me upon him!" And he +groaned and repeated the following verses, + +"Patient, O Allah! to Thy destiny * + I bow, suffice me what Thou deign decree: +Patient to bear Thy will, O Lord of me, * + Patient to burn on coals of Ghazá-tree: +They wrong me, visit me with hurt and harm; * + Haply Thy grace from them shall set me free: +Far be's, O Lord, from thee to spare the wronger * + O Lord of Destiny my hope's in Thee!" + +And what another saith, + +"Bethink thee not of worldly state, * + Leave everything to course of Fate; +For oft a thing that irketh thee * + Shall in content eventuate; +And oft what strait is shall expand, * + And what expanded is wax strait. +Allah will do what wills His will * + So be not thou importunate! +But 'joy the view of coming weal * + Shall make forget past bale and bate." + +And when he had ended his verse, the slave-girl came down upon him with +blows till he fainted again; and, throwing him a flap of bread and a +gugglet of saltish water, went away and left him sad and lonely, bound +in chains of iron, with the blood streaming from his sides and far from +those he loved. So he wept and called to mind his brother and the +honours he erst enjoyed.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that As'ad called to +mind his brother and the honours he erst enjoyed; so he wept and +groaned and complained and poured forth tears in floods and improvised +these couplets, + +"Easy, O Fate! how long this wrong, this injury, * + Robbing each morn and eve my brotherhood fro' me? +Is't not time now thou deem this length sufficiency * + Of woes and, O thou Heart of Rock, show clemency? +My friends thou wrongedst when thou madst each enemy * + Mock and exult me for thy wrongs, thy tyranny: +My foeman's heart is solaced by the things he saw * + In me, of strangerhood and lonely misery: +Suffice thee not what came upon my head of dole, * + Friends lost for evermore, eyes wan and pale of blee? +But must in prison cast so narrow there is naught * + Save hand to bite, with bitten hand for company; +And tears that tempest down like goodly gift of cloud, * + And longing thirst whose fires weet no satiety. +Regretful yearnings, singulfs and unceasing sighs, * + Repine, remembrance and pain's very ecstacy: +Desire I suffer sore and melancholy deep, * + And I must bide a prey to endless phrenesy: +I find me ne'er a friend who looks with piteous eye, * + And seeks my presence to allay my misery: +Say, liveth any intimate with trusty love * + Who for mine ills will groan, my sleepless malady? +To whom moan I can make and, peradventure, he * + Shall pity eyes that sight of sleep can never see? +The flea and bug suck up my blood, as wight that drinks * + Wine from the proffering hand of fair virginity: +Amid the lice my body aye remindeth me * + Of orphan's good in Kázi's claw of villainy: +My home's a sepulchre that measures cubits three, * + Where pass I morn and eve in chained agony: +My wines are tears, my clank of chains takes music's stead, * + Cares my dessert of fruit and sorrows are my bed." + +And when he had versed his verse and had prosed his prose, he again +groaned and complained and remembered he had been and how he had been +parted from his brother. Thus far concerning him; but as regards his +brother Amjad, he awaited As'ad till mid-day yet he returned not to +him: whereupon Amjad's vitals fluttered, the pangs of parting were sore +upon him and he poured forth abundant tears,—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Thirtieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Amjad +awaited his brother As'ad till mid-day and he returned not to him, +Amjad's vitals fluttered; the pangs of parting were sore upon him and +he poured forth abundant tears, exclaiming, "Alas, my brother! Alas, my +friend! Alas my grief! How I feared me we should be separated!" Then he +descended from the mountain-top with the tears running down his cheeks; +and, entering the city, ceased not walking till he made the market. He +asked the folk the name of the place and concerning its people and they +said, "This is called the City of the Magians, and its citizens are +mostly given to Fire-worshipping in lieu of the Omnipotent King." Then +he enquired of the City of Ebony and they answered, "Of a truth it is a +year's journey thither by land and six months by sea: it was governed +erst by a King called Armanus; but he took to son- in-law and made King +in his stead a Prince called Kamar al-Zaman distinguished for justice +and munificence, equity and benevolence." When Amjad heard tell of his +father, he groaned and wept and lamented and knew not whither to go. +However, he bought a something of food and carried it to a retired spot +where he sat down thinking to eat; but, recalling his brother, he fell +a- weeping and swallowed but a morsel to keep breath and body together, +and that against his will. Then he rose and walked about the city, +seeking news of his brother, till he saw a Moslem tailor sitting in his +shop so he sat down by him and told him his story; whereupon quoth the +tailor, "If he have fallen into the hands of the Magians, thou shalt +hardly see him again: yet it may be Allah will reunite you twain. But +thou, O my brother," he continued wilt thou lodge with me?" Amjad +answered, "Yes"; and the tailor rejoiced at this. So he abode with him +many days, what while the tailor comforted him and exhorted him to +patience and taught him tailoring, till he became expert in the craft. +Now one day he went forth to the sea-shore and washed his clothes; +after which he entered the bath and put on clean raiment; then he +walked about the city, to divert himself with its sights and presently +there met him on the way a woman of passing beauty and loveliness, +without peer for grace and comeliness. When she saw him she raised her +face-veil and signed to him by moving her eyebrows and her eyes with +luring glances, and versified these couplets, + +"I drooped my glance when seen thee on the way * + As though, O slim-waist! felled by Sol's hot ray: +Thou art the fairest fair that e'er appeared, * + Fairer to-day than fair of yesterday:[FN#384] +Were Beauty parted, a fifth part of it * + With Joseph or a part of fifth would stay; +The rest would fly to thee, shine ownest own; * + Be every soul thy sacrifice, I pray!" + +When Amjad heard these her words, they gladdened his heart which +inclined to her and his bowels yearned towards her and the hands of +love sported with him; so he sighed to her in reply and spoke these +couplets, + +"Above the rose of cheek is thorn of lance;[FN#385] * + Who dareth pluck it, rashest chevisance? +Stretch not thy hand towards it, for night long * + Those lances marred because we snatched a glance! +Say her, who tyrant is and tempter too * + (Though justice might her tempting power enhance):— +Thy face would add to errors were it veiled; * + Unveiled I see its guard hath best of chance! +Eye cannot look upon Sol's naked face; * + But can, when mist-cloud dims his countenance: +The honey-hive is held by honey-bee;[FN#386] * + Ask the tribe-guards what wants their vigilance? +An they would slay me, let them end their ire * + Rancorous, and grant us freely to advance: +They're not more murderous, an charge the whole * + Than charging glance of her who wears the mole." + +And hearing these lines from Amjad she sighed with the deepest sighs +and, signing to him again, repeated these couplets, + +"'Tis thou hast trodden coyness path not I: * + Grant me thy favours for the time draws nigh: +O thou who makest morn with light of brow, * + And with loosed brow-locks night in lift to stye! +Thine idol-aspect made of me thy slave, * + Tempting as temptedst me in days gone by: +'Tis just my liver fry with hottest love: * + Who worship fire for God must fire aby: +Thou sellest like of me for worthless price; * + If thou must sell, ask high of those who buy." + +When Amjad heard these her words he said to her, "Wilt thou come to my +lodging or shall I go with thee to shine?" So she hung her head in +shame to the ground and repeated the words of Him whose Name be +exalted, "Men shall have the pre-eminence above women, because of those +advantages wherein Allah hath caused the one of them to excel the +other."[FN#387] Upon this, Amjad took the hint.—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Amjad took the +woman's hint and understood that she wished to go with him whither he +was going; he felt himself bounder to find a place wherein to receive +her, but was ashamed to carry her to the house of his host, the tailor. +So he walked on and she walked after him, and the two ceased not +walking from street to street and place to place, till she was tired +and said to him, "O my lord, where is thy house?" Answered he, "Before +us a little way." Then he turned aside into a handsome by-street, +followed by the young woman, and walked on till he came to the end, +when he found it was no thoroughfare and exclaimed, "There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" +Then raising his eyes, he saw, at the upper end of the lane a great +doer with two stone benches; but it was locked. So Amjad sat down on +one of the benches and she on the other; and she said to him, "O my +lord, wherefore waitest thou?" He bowed his head awhile to the ground +then raised it and answered, "I am awaiting my Mameluke who hath the +key; for I bade him make me ready meat and drink and flowers, to deck +the wine-service against my return from the bath." But he said to +himself, "Haply the time will be tedious to her and she will go about +her business, leaving me here, when I will wend my own way." However, +as soon as she was weary of long waiting, she said, "O my lord, thy +Mameluke delayeth; and here are we sitting in the street;" and she +arose and took a stone and went up to the lock. Said Amjad, "Be not in +haste, but have patience till the servant come." However, she hearkened +not to him, but smote the wooden bolt with the stone and broke it in +half, whereupon the door opened. Quoth he, "What possessed thee to do +this deed?" Quoth she, "Pooh, pooh, my lord! what matter it? Is not the +house thy house and thy place?" He said, "There was no need to break +the bolt." Then the damsel entered, to the confusion of Amjad, who knew +not what to do for fear of the people of the house; but she said to +him, "Why dost thou not enter, O light of mine eyes and core of my +heart?" Replied he, "I hear and obey; but my servant tarrieth long and +I know not if he have done aught of what I bade him and specially +enjoined upon him, or not." Hereupon he entered, sore in fear of the +people of the house, and found himself in a handsome saloon with four +dais'd recesses, each facing other, and containing closets and raised +seats, all bespread with stuffs of silk and brocade; and in the midst +was a jetting fountain of costly fashion, on whose margin rested a +covered tray of meats, with a leather tablecloth hanging up and +gem-encrusted dishes, full of fruits and sweet- scented flowers. Hard +by stood drinking vessels and a candlestick with a single wax-candle +therein; and the place was full of precious stuffs and was ranged with +chests and stools, and on each seat lay a parcel of clothes upon which +was a purse full of monies, gold and silver. The floor was paved with +marble and the house bore witness in every part to its owner's fortune. +When Amjad saw all this, he was confounded at his case and said to +himself, "I am a lost man! Verily we are Allah's and to Allah we are +returning!" As for the damsel, when she sighted the place she rejoiced +indeed with a joy nothing could exceed, and said to him, "By Allah, O +my lord, thy servant hath not failed of his duty; for see, he hath +swept the place and cooked the meat and set on the fruit; and indeed I +come at the best of times." But he paid no heed to her, his heart being +taken up with fear of the house- folk; and she said, "Fie, O my lord, O +my heart! What aileth thee to stand thus?" Then she sighed and, giving +him a buss which sounded like the cracking of a walnut, said, "O my +lord, an thou have made an appointment with other than with me, I will +gird my middle and serve her and thee. Amjad laughed from a heart full +of rage and wrath and came forwards and sat down, panting and saying to +himself, "Alack, mine ill death and doom when the owner of the place +shall return!" Then she seated herself by him and fell to toying and +laughing, whilst Amjad sat careful and frowning, thinking a thousand +thoughts and communing with himself, "Assuredly the master of the house +cannot but come, and then what shall I say to him? he needs must kill +me and my life will be lost thus foolishly." Presently she rose and, +tucking up her sleeves, took a tray of food on which she laid the cloth +and then set it before Amjad and began to eat, saying, "Eat, O my +lord." So he came forward and ate; but the food was not pleasant to +him; on the contrary he ceased not to look towards the door, till the +damsel had eaten her fill, when she took away the tray of the meats +and, setting on the dessert, fell to eating of the dried fruits. Then +she brought the wine service and opening the jar, filled a cup and +handed it to Amjad, who took it from her hand saying to him self, ' Ah, +ah! and well away, when the master of the house cometh and seeth me!"; +and he kept his eyes fixed on the threshold, even with cup in hand. +While he was in this case, lo! in came the master of the house, who was +a white slave, one of the chief men of the city, being Master of the +Horse[FN#388] to the King. He had fitted up this saloon for his +pleasures, that he might make merry therein and be private with whom he +would, and he had that day bidden a youth whom he loved and had made +this entertainment for him. Now the name of this slave was +Bahádur,[FN#389] and he was open of hand, generous, munificent and fain +of alms-giving and charitable works.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it wad the Two Hundred and Thirty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Bahadur, the +Master of the Horse and the owner of the house, came to the door of the +saloon and found it open, he entered slowly and softly and looking in, +with head advanced and out stretched neck, saw Amjad and the girl +sitting before the dish of fruit and the wine-jar in front of them. Now +Amjad at that moment had the cup in his hand and his face turned to the +door; and when his glance met Bahadur's eyes his hue turned pale yellow +and his side-muscles quivered, so seeing his trouble Bahadur signed to +him with his finger on his lips, as much as to say, "Be silent and come +hither to me." Whereupon he set down the cup and rose and the damsel +cried, "Whither away?" He shook his head and, signing to her that he +wished to make water, went out into the passage barefoot. Now when he +saw Bahadur he knew him for the master of the house; so he hastened to +him and, kissing his hands, said to him, "Allah upon thee, O my lord, +ere thou do me a hurt, hear what I have to say." Then he told him who +he was from first to last and acquainted him with what caused him to +quit his native land and royal state, and how he had not entered his +house of his free will, but that it was the girl who had broken the +lock-bolt and done all this.[FN#390] When Bahadur heard his story and +knew that he was a King's son, he felt for him and, taking compassion +on him, said, "Hearken to me, O Amjad, and do what I bid thee and I +will guarantee thy safety from that thou fearest; but, if thou cross +me, I will kill thee." Amjad replied, "Command me as thou wilt: I will +not gainsay thee in aught; no, never, for I am the freedman of thy +bounty." Rejoined Bahadur, "Then go back forthwith into the saloon, sit +down in thy place and be at peace and at shine ease; I will presently +come in to thee, and when thou seest me (remember my name is Bahadur) +do thou revile me and rail at me, saying, 'What made thee tarry till so +late?' And accept no excuse from me; nay, so far from it, rise and beat +me; and, if thou spare me, I will do away thy life. Enter now and make +merry and whatsoever thou seekest of me at this time I will bring thee +forthwith; and do thou spend this night as thou wilt and on the morrow +wend thy way. This I do in honour of thy strangerhood, for I love the +stranger and hold myself bounder to do him devoir." So Amjad kissed his +hand, and, returning to the saloon with his face clad in its natural +white and red, at once said to the damsel, "O my mistress, thy presence +hath gladdened this shine own place and ours is indeed a blessed +night." Quoth the girl, "Verily I see a wonderful change in thee, that +thou now welcomest me so cordially!" So Amjad answered, "By Allah, O my +lady, methought my servant Bahadur had robbed me of some necklaces of +jewels, worth ten thousand diners each; however, when I went out but +now in concern for this, I sought for them and found them in their +place. I know not why the slave tarrieth so long and needs must I +punish him for it." She was satisfied with his answer, and they sported +and drank and made merry and ceased not to be so till near sundown, +when Bahadur came in to them, having changed his clothes and girt his +middle and put on shoes, such as are worn of Mamelukes. He saluted and +kissed the ground; then held his hands behind him and stood, with his +head hanging down, as one who confesseth to a fault. So Amjad looked at +him with angry eyes and asked, "Why hast thou tarried till now, O most +pestilent of slaves?" Answered Bahadur, "O my lord, I was busy washing +my clothes and knew not of thy being here; for our appointed time was +nightfall and not day-tide." But Amjad cried out at him, saying, "Thou +liest, O vilest of slaves! By Allah, I must needs beat thee." So he +rose and, throwing Bahadur prone on the ground, took a stick and beat +him gently; but the damsel sprang up and, snatching the stick from his +hand, came down upon Bahadur so lustily, that in extreme pain the tears +ran from his eyes and he ground his teeth together and called out for +succour; whilst Amjad cried out to the girl "Don't"; and she cried out, +"Let me satisfy my anger upon him!" till at last he pulled the stick +out of her hand and pushed her away. So Bahadur rose and, wiping away +his tears from his cheeks, waited upon them the while, after which he +swept the hall and lighted the lamps; but as often as he went in and +out, the lady abused him and cursed him till Amjad was wroth with her +and said, "For Almighty Allah's sake leave my Mameluke; he is not used +to this." Then they sat and ceased not eating and drinking (and Bahadur +waiting upon them) till midnight when, being weary with service and +beating, he fell asleep in the midst of the hall and snored and +snorted; whereupon the damsel, who was drunken with wine, said to +Amjad, "Arise, take the sword hanging yonder and cut me off this +slave's head; and, if thou do it not, I will be the death of thee!" +"What possesseth thee to slay my slave?" asked Amjad; and she answered, +"Our joyaunce will not be complete but by his death. If thou wilt not +kill him, I will do it myself." Quoth Amjad, "By Allah's rights to +thee, do not this thing!" Quoth she, "It must perforce be;" and, taking +down the sword, drew it and made at Bahadur to kill him; but Amjad said +in his mind, "This man hath entreated us courteously and sheltered us +and done us kindness and made himself my slave: shall we requite him by +slaughtering him? This shall never be!" Then he said to the woman, "If +my Mameluke must be killed, better I should kill him than thou." So +saying, he took the sword from her and, raising his hand, smote her on +the neck and made her head fly from her body. It fell upon Bahadur who +awoke and sat up and opened his eyes, when he saw Amjad standing by him +and in his hand the sword dyed with blood, and the damsel lying dead. +He enquired what had passed, and Amjad told him all she had said, +adding, "Nothing would satisfy her but she must slay thee; and this is +her reward." Then Bahadur rose and, kissing the Prince's hand, said to +him, "Would to Heaven thou hadst spared her! but now there is nothing +for it but to rid us of her without stay or delay, before the +day-break." Then he girded his loins and took the body, wrapped it in +an Abá-cloak and, laying it in a large basket of palm-leaves, he +shouldered it saying, "Thou art a stranger here and knowest no one: so +sit thou in this place and await my return till day-break. If I come +back to thee, I will assuredly do thee great good service and use my +endeavours to have news of thy brother; but if by sunrise I return not, +know that all is over with me; and peace be on thee, and the house and +all it containeth of stuffs and money are shine." Then he fared forth +from the saloon bearing the basket; and, threading the streets, he made +for the salt sea, thinking to throw it therein: but as he drew near the +shore, he turned and saw that the Chief of Police and his officers had +ranged themselves around him; and, on recognising him, they wondered +and opened the basket, wherein they found the slain woman. So they +seized him and laid him in bilboes all that night till the morning, +when they carried him and the basket, as it was, to the King and +reported the case. The King was sore enraged when he looked upon the +slain and said to Bahadur, "Woe to thee! Thou art always so doing; thou +killest folk and castest them into the sea and takest their goods. How +many murders hast thou done ere this?" Thereupon Bahadur hung his +head.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Bahadur hung down +his head groundwards before the King, who cried out at him, saying, +"Woe to thee! Who killed this girl?" He replied, "O my lord! I killed +her, and there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the +Glorious, the Great!"[FN#391] So the King in his anger, commanded to +hang him; and the hangman went down with him by the King's commandment, +and the Chief of Police accompanied him with a crier who called upon +all the folk to witness the execution of Bahadur, the King's Master of +the Horse; and on this wise they paraded him through the main streets +and the market-streets. This is how it fared with Bahadur; but as +regards Amjad, he awaited his host's return till the day broke and the +sun rose, and when he saw that he came not, he exclaimed, "There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! +Would I knew what is become of him?" And, as he sat musing behold, he +heard the crier proclaiming Bahadur's sentence and bidding the people +to see the spectacle of his hanging at midday; whereat he wept and +exclaimed, "Verily, we are Allah's and to Him we are returning! He +meaneth to sacrifice himself unjustly for my sake, when I it was who +slew her. By Allah, this shall never be!" Then he went from the saloon +and, shutting the door after him, hurriedly threaded the streets till +he overtook Bahadur, when he stood before the Chief of Police and said +to him, "O my lord, put not Bahadur to death, for he is innocent. By +Allah, none killed her but I." Now when the Captain of Police heard +these words, he took them both and, carrying them before the King, +acquainted him with what Amjad had said; whereupon he looked at the +Prince and asked him, "Didst thou kill the damsel?" He answered, "Yes" +and the King said, "Tell me why thou killedst her, and speak the +truth." Replied Amjad, "O King, it is indeed a marvellous event and a +wondrous matter that hath befallen me: were it graven with needles on +the eye-corners, it would serve as a warner to whoso would be warned!" +Then he told him his whole story and informed him of all that had +befallen him and his brother, first and last; whereat the King was much +startled and surprised and said to him, "Know that now I find thee to +be excusable; but list, O youth! Wilt thou be my Wazír?" "Hearkening +and obedience," answered Amjad whereupon the King bestowed magnificent +dresses of honour on him and Bahadur and gave him a handsome house, +with eunuchs and officers and all things needful, appointing him +stipends and allowances and bidding him make search for his brother +As'ad. So Amjad sat down in the seat of the Wazirate and governed and +did justice and invested and deposed and took and gave. Moreover, he +sent out a crier to cry his brother throughout the city, and for many +days made proclamation in the main streets and market-streets, but +heard no news of As'ad nor happened on any trace of him. Such was his +case; but as regards his brother, the Magi ceased not to torture As'ad +night and day and eve and morn for a whole year's space, till their +festival drew near, when the old man Bahram[FN#392] made ready for the +voyage and fitted out a ship for himself.—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Bahram, the +Magian, having fitted out a ship for the voyage, took As'ad and put him +in a chest which he locked and had it transported on board. Now it so +came to pass that, at the very time of shipping it, Amjad was standing +to divert himself by looking upon the sea; and when he saw the men +carrying the gear and shipping it, his heart throbbed and he called to +his pages to bring him his beast. Then, mounting with a company of his +officers, he rode down to the sea-side and halted before the Magian's +ship, which he commended his men to board and search. They did his +bidding, and boarded the vessel and rummaged in every part, but found +nothing; so they returned and told Amjad, who mounted again and rode +back. But he felt troubled in mind; and when he reached his place and +entered his palace, he cast his eyes on the wall and saw written +thereon two lines which were these couplets, + +"My friends! if ye are banisht from mine eyes, * + From heart and mind ye ne'er go wandering: +But ye have left me in my woe, and rob * + Rest from my eyelids while ye are slumbering." + +And seeing them Amjad thought of his brother and wept. Such was his +case; but as for Bahram, the Magian, he embarked and shouted and bawled +to his crew to make sail in all haste. So they shook out the sails and +departed and ceased not to fare on many days and nights; and, every +other day, Bahram took out As'ad and gave him a bit of bread and made +him drink a sup of water, till they drew near the Mountain of Fire. +Then there came out on them a storm-wind and the sea rose against them, +so that the ship was driven out of her course till she took a wrong +line and fell into strange waters; and, at last they came in sight of a +city builded upon the shore, with a castle whose windows overlooked the +main. Now the ruler of this city was a Queen called Marjánah, and the +captain said to Bahram, "O my lord, we have strayed from our course and +come to the island of Queen Marjanah, who is a devout Moslemah; and, if +she know that we are Magians, she will take our ship and slay us to the +last man. Yet needs must we put in here to rest and refit." Quoth +Bahram, "Right is thy recking, and whatso thou seest fit that will I +do!" Said the ship master, "If the Queen summon us and question us, how +shall we answer her?"; and Bahram replied, "Let us clothe this Moslem +we have with us in a Mameluke's habit and carry him ashore with us, so +that when the Queen sees him, she will suppose and say, 'This is a +slave.' As for me I will tell her that I am a slave-dealer[FN#393] who +buys and sells white slaves, and that I had with me many but have sold +all save this one, whom I retained to keep my accounts, for he can read +and write." And the captain said "This device should serve." Presently +they reached the city and slackened sail and cast the anchors; and the +ship lay still, when behold, Queen Marjanah came down to them, attended +by her guards and, halting before the vessel, called out to the +captain, who landed and kissed the ground before her. Quoth she, "What +is the lading of this thy ship and whom hast thou with thee?"" Quoth +he, "O Queen of the Age, I have with me a merchant who dealeth in +slaves." And she said, "Hither with him to me"; whereupon Bahram came +ashore to her, with As'ad walking behind him in a slave's habit, and +kissed the earth before her. She asked, "What is thy condition?"; and +he answered, "I am a dealer in chattels." Then she looked at As'ad and, +taking him for a Mameluke, asked him, "What is thy name, O youth?" He +answered, "Dost thou ask my present or my former name?" "Hast thou then +two names?" enquired she, and he replied (and indeed his voice was +choked with tears), "Yes; my name aforetime was Al-As'ad, the most +happy, but now it is Al- Mu'tarr—Miserrimus." Her heart inclined to him +and she said, "Canst thou write?" "Yes,'' answered he, and she gave him +ink- case and reed-pen and paper and said to him, "Write somewhat that +I may see it." So he wrote these two couplets, + +"What can the slave do when pursued by Fate, * + O justest Judge! whatever be his state?[FN#394] +Whom God throws hand bound in the depths and says, * + Beware lest water should thy body wet?"[FN#395] + +Now when she read these lines, she had ruth upon him and said to +Bahram, "Sell me this slave." He replied, "O my lady, I cannot sell +him, for I have parted with all the rest and none is left with me but +he." Quoth the Queen, "I must need have him of thee, either by sale or +way of gift." But quoth Bahram, "I will neither sell him nor give him." +Whereat she was wroth and, taking As'ad by the hand, carried him up to +the castle and sent to Bahram, saying, "Except thou set sail and depart +our city this very night, I will seize all thy goods and break up thy +ship." Now when the message reached the Magian, he grieved with sore +grief and cried, "Verily this voyage is on no wise to be commended." +Then he arose and made ready and took all he needed and awaited the +coming of the night to resume his voyage, saying to the sailors, +"Provide yourselves with your things and fill your water-skins, that we +may set sail at the last of the night." So the sailors did their +business and awaited the coming of darkness. Such was their case; but +as regards Queen Marjanah, when she had brought As'ad into the castle, +she opened the casements overlooking the sea and bade her handmaids +bring food. They set food before As'ad and herself and both ate, after +which the Queen called for wine.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen +Marjanah bade her handmaids bring wine and they set it before her, she +fell to drinking with As'ad. Now, Allah (be He extolled and exalted!) +filled her heart with love for the Prince and she kept filling his cup +and handing it to him till his reason fled; and presently he rose and +left the hall to satisfy a call of nature. As he passed out of the +saloon he saw an open door through which he went and walked on till his +walk brought him to a vast garden full of all manner fruits and +flowers; and, sitting down under a tree, he did his occasion. Then he +rose and went up to a jetting fountain in the garden and made the +lesser ablution and washed his hands and face, after which he would +have risen to go away; but the air smote him and he fell back, with his +clothes undone and slept, and night overcame him thus. So far +concerning him; but as concerns Bahram, the night being come, he cried +out to his crew, saying, "Set sail and let us away!"; and the' +answered, "We hear and obey, but wait till we fill our water- skins and +then we will set sail." So they landed with their water skins and went +round about the castle, and found nothing but garden-walls: whereupon +they climbed over into the garden and followed the track of feet, which +led them to the fountain; and there they found As'ad lying on his back. +They knew him and were glad to find him; and, after filling their +water-skins, they bore him off and climbed the wall again with him and +carried him back in haste to Bahram to whom they said, "Hear the good +tidings of thy winning thy wish; and gladden thy heart and beat thy +drums and sound thy pipes; for thy prisoner, whom Queen Marjanah took +from thee by force, we have found and brought back to thee"; and they +threw As'ad down before him. When Bahram saw him, his heart leapt for +joy and his breast swelled with gladness. Then he bestowed largesse on +the sailors and bade them set sail in haste. So they sailed forthright, +intending to make the Mountain of Fire and stayed not their course till +the morning. This is how it fared with them; but as regards Queen +Marjanah, she abode awhile, after As'ad went down from her, awaiting +his return in vain for he came not; thereupon she rose and sought him, +yet found no trace of him. Then she bade her women light flambeaux and +look for him, whilst she went forth in person and, seeing the garden- +door open, knew that he had gone thither. So she went out into the +garden and finding his sandals lying by the fountain, searched the +place in every part, but came upon no sign of him; and yet she gave not +over the search till morning. Then she enquired for the ship and they +told her, "The vessel set sail in the first watch of the night"; +wherefor she knew that they had taken As'ad with them, and this was +grievous to her and she was sore an-angered. She bade equip ten great +ships forthwith and, making ready for fight, embarked in one of the ten +with her Mamelukes and slave-women and men-at-arms, all splendidly +accoutred and weaponed for war. They spread the sails and she said to +the captains, "If you overtake the Magian's ship, ye shall have of me +dresses of honour and largesse of money; but if you fail so to do, I +will slay you to the last man." Whereat fear and great hope animated +the crews and they sailed all that day and the night and the second day +and the third day till, on the fourth they sighted the ship of Bahram, +the Magian, and before evening fell the Queen's squadron had surrounded +it on all sides, just as Bahram had taken As'ad forth of the chest and +was beating and torturing him, whilst the Prince cried out for help and +deliverance, but found neither helper nor deliverer: and the grievous +bastinado sorely tormented him. Now while so occupied, Bahram chanced +to look up and, seeing himself encompassed by the Queen's ships, as the +white of the eye encompasseth the black, he gave himself up for lost +and groaned and said, "Woe to thee, O As'ad! This is all out of thy +head." Then taking him by the hand he bade his men throw him overboard +and cried, "By Allah I will slay thee before I die myself!" So they +carried him along by the hands and feet and cast him into the sea and +he sank; but Allah (be He extolled and exalted!) willed that his life +be saved and that his doom be deferred; so He caused him to sink and +rise again and he struck out with his hands and feet, till the Almighty +gave him relief, and sent him deliverance; and the waves bore him far +from the Magian's ship and threw him ashore. He landed, scarce +crediting his escape, and once more on land he doffed his clothes and +wrung them and spread them out to dry; whilst he sat naked and weeping +over his condition, and bewailing his calamities and mortal dangers, +and captivity and stranger hood. And presently he repeated these two +couplets, + +"Allah, my patience fails: I have no ward; * + My breast is straitened and clean cut my cord; +To whom shall wretched slave of case complain * + Save to his Lord? O thou of lords the Lord!" + +Then, having ended his verse, he rose and donned his clothes but he +knew not whither to go or whence to come; so he fed on the herbs of the +earth and the fruits of the trees and he drank of the streams, and +fared on night and day till he came in sight of a city; whereupon he +rejoiced and hastened his pace; but when he reached it,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it Was the Two Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when he reached +the city the shades of evening closed around him and the gates were +shut. Now by the decrees of Pate and man's lot this was the very city +wherein he had been a prisoner and to whose King his brother Amjad was +Minister. When As'ad saw the gate was locked, he turned back and made +for the burial-ground, where finding a tomb without a door, he entered +therein and lay down and fell asleep, with his face covered by his long +sleeve.[FN#396] Meanwhile, Queen Marjanah, coming up with Bahram's +ship, questioned him of As'ad. Now the Magian, when Queen Marjanah +overtook him with her ships, baffled her by his artifice and gramarye; +swearing to her that he was not with him and that he knew nothing of +him. She searched the ship, but found no trace of her friend, so she +took Bahram and, carrying him back to her castle, would have put him to +death, but he ransomed himself from her with all his good and his ship; +and she released him and his men. They went forth from her hardly +believing in their deliverance, and fared on ten days' journey till +they came to their own city and found the gate shut, it being eventide. +So they made for the burial-ground, thinking to lie the night there +and, going round about the tombs, as Fate and Fortune would have it, +saw the building wherein As'ad lay wide open; whereat Bahram marvelled +and said, "I must look into this sepulchre." Then he entered and found +As'ad lying in a corner fast asleep, with his head covered by his +sleeve; so he raised his head, and looking in his face, knew him for +the man on whose account he had lost his good and his ship, and cried, +"What! art thou yet alive?" Then he bound him and gagged him without +further parley, and carried him to his house, where he clapped heavy +shackles on his feet and lowered him into the underground dungeon +aforesaid prepared for the tormenting of Moslems, and he bade his +daughter by name Bostán,[FN#397] torture him night and day, till the +next year, when they would again visit the Mountain of Fire and there +offer him up as a sacrifice. Then he beat him grievously and locking +the dungeon door upon him, gave the keys to his daughter. By and by, +Bostan opened the door and went down to beat him, but finding him a +comely youth and a sweet-faced with arched brows and eyes black with +nature's Kohl,[FN#398] she fell in love with him and asked him, "What +is thy name?" "My name is As'ad," answered he; whereat she cried, +"Mayst thou indeed be happy as thy name,[FN#399] and happy be thy days! +Thou deservest not torture and blows, and I see thou hast been +injuriously entreated." And she comforted him with kind words and +loosed his bonds. Then she questioned him of the religion of Al-Islam +and he told her that it was the true and right Faith and that our lord +Mohammed had approved himself by surpassing miracles[FN#400] and signs +manifest, and that fire-worship is harmful and not profitable; and he +went on to expound to her the tenets of Al-Islam till she was persuaded +and the love of the True Faith entered her heart. Then, as Almighty +Allah had mixed up with her being a fond affection for As'ad, she +pronounced the Two Testimonies[FN#401] of the Faith and became of the +people of felicity. After this, she brought him meat and drink and +talked with him and they prayed together: moreover, she made him +chicken stews and fed him therewith, till he regained strength and his +sickness left him and he was restored to his former health. Such things +befel him with the daughter of Bahram, the Magian; and so it happened +that one day she left him and stood at the house-door when behold, she +heard the crier crying aloud and saying, "Whoso hath with him a +handsome young man, whose favour is thus and thus, and bringeth him +forth, shall have all he seeketh of money; but if any have him and deny +it, he shall be hanged over his own door and his property shall be +plundered and his blood go for naught." Now As'ad had acquainted Bostan +bint Bahram with his whole history: so, when she heard the crier, she +knew that it was he who was sought for and, going down to him, told him +the news. Then he fared forth and made for the mansion of the Wazir, +whom, when As'ad saw, exclaimed, "By Allah, this Minister is my brother +Amjad!" Then he went up (and the damsel walking behind him) to the +Palace, where he again saw his brother, and threw himself upon him; +whereupon Amjad also knew him and fell upon his neck and they embraced +each other, whilst the Wazir's Mamelukes dismounted and stood round +them. They lay awhile insensible and, when they came to themselves, +Amjad took his brother and carried him to the Sultan, to whom he +related the whole story, and the Sultan charged him to plunder Bahram's +house.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Two Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Sultan +ordered Amjad to plunder Bahram's house and to hang its owner. So Amjad +despatched thither for that purpose a company of men, who sacked the +house and took Bahram and brought his daughter to the Wazir by whom she +was received with all honour, for As'ad had told his brother the +torments he had suffered and the kindness she had done him. Thereupon +Amjad related in his turn to As'ad all that had passed between himself +and the damsel; and how he had escaped hanging and had become Wazir; +and they made moan, each to other, of the anguish they had suffered for +separation. Then the Sultan summoned Bahram and bade strike off his +head; but he said, "O most mighty King, art thou indeed resolved to put +me to death?" Replied the King, "Yes, except thou save thyself by +becoming a Moslem." Quoth Bahram, "O King, bear with me a little +while!" Then he bowed his head groundwards and presently raising it +again, made pro fession of The Faith and islamised at the hands of the +Sultan. They all rejoiced at his conversion and Amjad and As'ad told +him all that had befallen them, whereat he wondered and said, "O my +lords, make ready for the journey and I will depart with you and carry +you back to your father's court in a ship." At this they rejoiced and +wept with sore weeping but he said, "O my lords, weep not for your +departure, for it shall reunite you with those you love, even as were +Ni'amah and Naomi." "And what befel Ni'amah and Naomi?" asked they. +"They tell," replied Bahram, "(but Allah alone is All knowing) the +following tale of + +End of Vol. 3 + + Arabian Nights, Volume 3 + Footnotes + +[FN#1] This "horripilation," for which we have the poetical term +"goose-flesh," is often mentioned in Hindu as in Arab literature. + +[FN#2] How often we have heard this in England! + +[FN#3] As a styptic. The scene in the text has often been enacted in +Egypt where a favourite feminine mode of murdering men is by beating +and bruising the testicles. The Fellahs are exceedingly clever in +inventing methods of manslaughter. For some years bodies were found +that bore no outer mark of violence, and only Frankish inquisitiveness +discovered that the barrel of a pistol had been passed up the anus and +the weapon discharged internally Murders of this description are known +in English history; but never became popular practice. + +[FN#4] Arab. "Zakar," that which betokens masculinity. At the end of +the tale we learn that she also gelded him; thus he was a "Sandal)," a +rasé. + +[FN#5] See vol. i. p. 104. {see Volume 1, Note 188} + +[FN#6] The purity and intensity of her love had attained to a something +of prophetic strain. + +[FN#7] Lane corrupts this Persian name to Sháh Zemán (i. 568). + +[FN#8] i.e. the world, which includes the ideas of Fate, Time, +Chance. + +[FN#9] Arab. "Bárid," silly, noyous, contemptible; as in the proverb + + Two things than ice are colder cold:— + An old man young, a young man old. + +A "cold-of-countenance"=a fool: "May Allah make cold thy face!"=may it +show want and misery. "By Allah, a cold speech!"=a silly or abusive +tirade (Pilgrimage, ii. 22). + +[FN#10] The popular form is, "often the ear loveth before the eye." + +[FN#11] Not the first time that royalty has played this prank, nor the +last, perhaps. + +[FN#12] i.e. the Lady Dunya. + +[FN#13] These magazines are small strongly-built rooms on the ground +floor, where robbery is almost impossible. + +[FN#14] Lit. "approbation," "benediction"; also the Angel who keeps the +Gates of Paradise and who has allowed one of the Ghilmán (or Wuldán) +the boys of supernatural beauty that wait upon the Faithful, to wander +forth into this wicked world. + +[FN#15] In Europe this would be a plurale majestatis, used only by +Royalty. In Arabic it has no such significance, and even the lower +orders apply it to themselves; although it often has a soupçon of "I +and thou." + +[FN#16] Man being an "extract of despicable water" (Koran xxxii. 7) ex +spermate genital), which Mr. Rodwell renders "from germs of life," +"from sorry water." + +[FN#17] i.e. begotten by man's seed in the light of salvation +(Núr al-hudá). + +[FN#18] The rolls of white (camphor-like) scarf-skin and sordes which +come off under the bathman's glove become by miracle of Beauty, as +brown musk. The Rubber or Shampooer is called in Egypt "Mukayyis" +(vulgarly "Mukayyisáti") or "bagman," from his "Kís," a bag-glove of +coarse woollen stuff. To "Johnny Raws" he never fails to show the +little rolls which come off the body and prove to them how unclean they +are, but the material is mostly dead scarf-skin + +[FN#19] The normal phrase on such occasions (there is always a +"dovetail" de rigueur) "Allah give thee profit!" + +[FN#20] i.e. We are forced to love him only, and ignore giving him a +rival (referring to Koranic denunciations of "Shirk," or attributing a +partner to Allah, the religion of plurality, syntheism not polytheism): +see, he walks tottering under the weight of his back parts wriggling +them whilst they are rounded like the revolving heavens. + +[FN#21] Jannat al-Na'ím (Garden of Delight); the fifth of the seven +Paradises made of white diamond; the gardens and the plurality being +borrowed from the Talmud. Mohammed's Paradise, by the by, is not a +greater failure than Dante's. Only ignorance or pious fraud asserts it +to be wholly sensual; and a single verse is sufficient refutation: +"Their prayer therein shall be 'Praise unto thee, O. Allah!' and their +salutation therein shall be 'Peace!' and the end of their prayer shall +be, 'Praise unto God, the Lord of all creatures"' (Koran x. 10-11). See +also lvi. 24- 26. It will also be an intellectual condition wherein +knowledge will greatly be increased (lxxxviii viii. 17-20). Moreover +the Moslems, far more logical than Christians, admit into Paradise the +so-called "lower animals." + +[FN#22] Sed vitam faciunt balnea, vine, Venus! The Hammam to Easterns +is a luxury as well as a necessity; men sit there for hours talking +chiefly of money and their prowess with the fair; and women pass half +the day in it complaining of their husbands' over-amativeness and +contrasting their own chaste and modest aversion to camel congress. + +[FN#23] The frigidarium or cold room, coolness being delightful to the +Arab. + +[FN#24] The calidarium or hot room of the bath. + +[FN#25] The Angel who acts door-keeper of Hell; others say he specially +presides over the torments of the damned (Koran xliii. 78). + +[FN#26] The Door-keeper of Heaven before mentioned who, like the Guebre +Zamiyád has charge of the heavenly lads and lasses, and who is often +charged by poets with letting them slip. + +[FN#27] Lane (i. 616), says "of wine, milk, sherbet, or any other +beverage." Here it is wine, a practice famed in Persian poetry, +especially by Hafiz, but most distasteful to a European stomach. We +find the Mu allakah of Imr al-Keys noticing "our morning draught." Nott +(Hafiz) says a "cheerful cup of wine in the morning was a favourite +indulgence with the more luxurious Persians. And it was not uncommon +among the Easterns, to salute friend by saying."May your morning +potation be agreeable to you!" In the present day this practice is +confined to regular debauchees. + +[FN#28] Koran xii. 31. The words spoken by Zulaykhá's women friends and +detractors whom she invited to see Beauty Joseph. + +[FN#29] A formula for averting fascination. Koran, chaps. cxiii. 1. +"Falak" means "cleaving" hence the breaking forth of light from +darkness, a "wonderful instance of the Divine power." + +[FN#30] The usual delicate chaff. + +[FN#31] Such letters are generally written on a full-sized sheet of +paper ("notes" are held slighting in the East) and folded till the +breadth is reduced to about one inch. The edges are gummed, the ink, +much like our Indian ink, is smeared with the finger upon the signet +ring; the place where it is to be applied is slightly wetted with the +tongue and the seal is stamped across the line of junction to secure +privacy. I have given a specimen of an original love-letter of the kind +in "Scinde, or the Unhappy Valley," chaps. iv. + +[FN#32] Arab. "Salb" which may also mean hanging, but the usual term +for the latter in The Nights is "shanak." Crucifixion, abolished by the +superstitious Constantine, was practised as a servile punishment as +late as the days of Mohammed Ali Pasha the Great e malefactors were +nailed and tied to the patibulum or cross-piece without any sup +pedaneum or foot-rest and left to suffer tortures from flies and sun, +thirst and hunger. They often lived three days and died of the wounds +mortifying and the nervous exhaustion brought on by cramps and +convulsions. In many cases the corpses were left to feed the kites and +crows; and this added horror to the death. Moslems care little for mere +hanging. Whenever a fanatical atrocity is to be punished, the +malefactor should be hung in pig-skin, his body burnt and the ashes +publicly thrown into a common cesspool. + +[FN#33] Arab "Shaytán" the insolent or rebellious one is a common +term of abuse. The word I. Koramc, and borrowed as usual from the +Jews. "Satan" occurs four times in the O.T. of which two are in +Job where, however, he is a subordinate angel. + +[FN#34] Arab. "Alak" from the Koran xxii. 5. " O men…consider that we +first created you of dust (Adam); afterwards of seed (Rodwell's "moist +germs of life"); afterwards of a little coagulated (or clots of) +blood." It refers to all mankind except Adam, Eve and Isa. Also chaps. +xcvi. 2, which, as has been said was probably the first composed at +Meccah. Mr. Rodwell (v. 10) translates by 'Servant of God" what should +be "Slave of Allah," alluding to Mohammed's original name Abdullah. See +my learned friend Aloys Sprenger, Leben, etc., i.155. + +[FN#35] The Hindus similarly exaggerate: "He was ready to leap out of +his skin in his delight" (Katha, etc., p. 443). + +[FN#36] A star in the tail of the Great Bear, one of the "Banát +al-Na'ash," or a star close to the second. Its principal use is to act +foil to bright Sohayl (Canopus) as in the beginning of Jámí's +Layla-Majnún:— + + To whom Thou'rt hid, day is darksome night: + To whom shown, Sohá as Sohayl is bright. + +See also al-Hariri (xxxii. and xxxvi.). The saying, "I show her Soha +and she shows me the moon" (A. P. i. 547) arose as follows. In the +Ignorance a beautiful Amazon defied any man to take her maidenhead; and +a certain Ibn al-Ghazz won the game by struggling with her till she was +nearly senseless. He then asked her, "How is thine eye-sight: dost thou +see Soha?" and she, in her confusion, pointed to the moon and said, +"That is it!" + +[FN#37] The moon being masculine (lupus) and the sun feminine. + +[FN#38] The "five Shaykhs" must allude to that number of Saints whose +names are doubtful; it would be vain to offer conjectures. Lane and his +"Sheykh" (i. 617) have tried and failed. + +[FN#39] The beauties of nature seem always to provoke hunger in +Orientals, especially Turks, as good news in Englishmen. + +[FN#40] Pers. "Lájuward": Arab. "Lázuward"; prob. the origin of our +"azure," through the Romaic and the Ital. azzurro; and, more +evidently still, of lapis lazuli, for which do not see the +Dictionaries. + +[FN#41] Arab. "Maurid." the desert-wells where caravans drink: also the +way to water wells. + +[FN#42] The famous Avicenna, whom the Hebrews called Aben Sina. The +early European Arabists, who seem to have learned Arabic through +Hebrew, borrowed their corruption, and it long kept its place in +Southern Europe. + +[FN#43] According to the Hindus there are ten stages of love- sickness: +(1) Love of the eyes (2) Attraction of the Manas or mind; (3) Birth of +desire; (4) Loss of sleep; (5) Loss of flesh; (6) Indifference to +objects of sense; (7) Loss of shame, (8) Distraction of thought (9) +Loss of consciousness; and (10) Death. + +[FN#44] We should call this walk of "Arab ladies" a waddle: I have +never seen it in Europe except amongst the trading classes of Trieste, +who have a "wriggle" of their own. + +[FN#45] In our idiom six doors. + +[FN#46] They refrained from the highest enjoyment, intending to marry. + +[FN#47] Arab. "Jihád," lit. fighting against something; Koranically, +fighting against infidels non- believers in Al-lslam (chaps. Ix. 1). +But the "Mujáhidún" who wage such war are forbidden to act aggressively +(ii. 186). Here it is a war to save a son. + +[FN#48] The lady proposing extreme measures is characteristic: +Egyptians hold, and justly enough, that their women are more amorous +than men. + +[FN#49] "O Camphor," an antiphrase before noticed. The vulgar also say +"Yá Taljí"=O snowy (our snowball), the polite "Ya Abú Sumrah !" =O +father of brownness. + +[FN#50] i.e. which fit into sockets in the threshold and lintel and act +as hinges. These hinges have caused many disputes about how they were +fixed, for instance in caverns without moveable lintel or threshold. +But one may observe that the upper projections are longer than the +lower and that the door never fits close above, so by lifting it up the +inferior pins are taken out of the holes. It is the oldest form and the +only form known to the Ancients. In Egyptian the hinge is called +Akab=the heel, hence the proverb Wakaf' al-báb alá 'akabin; the door +standeth on its heel; i.e. every thing in proper place. + +[FN#51] Hence the addresses to the Deity: Yá Sátir and Yá Sattár- -Thou +who veilest the sins of Thy Servants! said e.g., when a woman is +falling from her donkey, etc. + +[FN#52] A necessary precaution, for the headsman who would certainly +lose his own head by overhaste. + +[FN#53] The passage has also been rendered, "and rejoiced him by what +he said" (Lane i, 600). + +[FN#54] Arab. "Hurr"=noble, independent (opp. to 'Abd=a servile) often +used to express animć nobilitas as in Acts xvii. 11; where the +Berans were "more noble" than the Thessalonians. The Princess means +that the Prince would not lie with her before marriage. + +[FN#55] The Persian word is now naturalized as Anglo-Egypeian. + +[FN#56] Arab. "khassat hu" = removed his testicles, gelded him. + +[FN#57] Here ends the compound tale of Taj al-Muluk cum Aziz plus +Azizah, and we return to the history of King Omar's sons. + +[FN#58] "Zibl" popularly pronounced Zabal, means "dung." Khan is +"Chief," as has been noticed; "Zabbál," which Torrens renders literally +"dung-drawer," is one who feeds the Hammam with bois- de-vache, etc. + +[FN#59] i.e one who fights the Jihád or "Holy War": it is equivalent to +our "good knight." + +[FN#60] Arab. "Malik." Azud al Daulah, a Sultan or regent under the +Abbaside Caliph Al-Tá'i li 'llah (regn. A.H. 363-381) was the first to +take the title of "Malik." The latter in poetry is still written Malík. + +[FN#61] A townlet on the Euphrates, in the "awwal Shám," or frontier of +Syria. + +[FN#62] i.e., the son would look to that. + +[FN#63] A characteristic touch of Arab pathos, tender and true. + +[FN#64] Arab. "Mawarid" from "ward" = resorting to pool or water- pit +(like those of "Gakdúl") for drinking, as opposed to "Sadr"=returning +after having drunk at it. Hence the "Sádir" (part. act.) takes +precedence of the "Wárid" in Al-Hariri (Ass. of the Badawi). + +[FN#65] One of the fountains of Paradise (Koran, chaps. Ixxvi.): the +word lit. means "water flowing pleasantly down the throat." The same +chapter mentions "Zanjabíl," or the Ginger-fount, which to the Infidel +mind unpleasantly suggests "ginger pop." + +[FN#66] Arab. "Takhíl" = adorning with Kohl. + +[FN#67] The allusions are far-fetched and obscure as in Scandinavian +poetry. Mr. Payne (ii. 314) translates "Naml" by "net." I understand +the ant (swarm) creeping up the cheeks, a common simile for a young +beard. The lovers are in the Lazá (hell) of jealousy etc., yet feel in +the Na'ím (heaven) of love and robe in green, the hue of hope, each +expecting to be the favoured one. + +[FN#68] Arab. "Ukhuwán," the classical term. There are two chamomiles, +the white (Bábúnaj) and the yellow (Kaysún), these however are Syrian +names and plants are differently called in almost every Province of +Arabia + +[FN#69] In nomadic life the parting of lovers happens so frequently +that it become. a stock topic in poetry and often, as here, the lover +complains of parting when he is not parted. But the gravamen lies in +the word "Wasl" which may mean union, meeting, reunion Or coition. As +Ka'ab ibn Zuhayr began his famous poem with "Su'ád hath departed," 900 +imitators (says Al-Siyuti) adopted the Násib or address to the beloved +and Su'ad came to signify a cruel, capricious mistress. + +[FN#70] As might be expected from a nation of camel-breeders actual +cautery which can cause only counter-irritation, is a favourite +nostrum; and the Hadis or prophetic saying is "Akhir al-dawá (or +al-tibb) al-Kayy" = cautery is the end of medicine- cure; and "Fire and +sickness cannot cohabit." Most of the Badawi bear upon their bodies +grisly marks Of this heroic treatment, whose abuse not unfrequently +brings on gangrene. The Hadis (Burckhardt, Proverbs, No. 30) also means +"if nothing else avail, take violent measures. + +[FN#71] The Spaniards have the same expression: "Man is fire and woman +is tinder." + +[FN#72] Arab. "Báshik" from Persian "Báshah" (accipiter Nisus) a fierce +little species of sparrow-hawk which I have described in "Falconry in +the Valley of the Indus" (p. 14, etc.). + +[FN#73] Lit. "Coals (fit) for frying pan." + +[FN#74] Arab. "Libdah," the sign of a pauper or religious mendicant. He +is addressed "Yá Abu libdah!" (O father of a felt calotte!) + +[FN#75] In times of mourning Moslem women do not use perfumes or dyes, +like the Henna here alluded to in the pink legs and feet of the dove. + +[FN#76] Koran, chaps. ii. 23. The idea is repeated in some forty +Koranic passages. + +[FN#77] A woman's name, often occurring. The "daughters of Sa'ada" are +zebras, so called because "they resemble women in beauty and graceful +agility." + +[FN#78] Arab. "Tiryák" from Gr. a drug against +venomous bites. It was compounded mainly of treacle, and that of +Baghdad and Irák was long held sovereign. The European equivalent, +"Venice treacle," (Theriaca Andromachi) is an electuary containing many +elements. Badawin eat for counter- poison three heads of garlic in +clarified butter for forty days. (Pilgrimage iii 77 ) + +[FN#79] Could Cervantes have read this? In Algiers he might easily have +heard it recited by the tale-tellers. Kanmakan is the typical Arab +Knight, gentle and valiant as Don Quixote Sabbáh is the Grazioso, a +"Beduin" Sancho Panza. In the "Romance of Antar" we have a similar +contrast with Ocab who says: "Indeed I am no fighter: the sword in my +hand-palm chases only pelicans ;" and, "whenever you kill a satrap, +I'll plunder him." + +[FN#80] i.e. The Comely, son of the Spearman, son of the Lion, or +Hero. + +[FN#81] Arab. "Ushári." Old Purchas (vi., i. 9) says there are three +kinds of camels (1 ) Huguin (=Hejin) of tall stature and able to carry +1,000 lbs. (2) Bechete (=Bukhti) the two-humped Bactrian before +mentioned and, (3) the Raguahill (Rahíl) small dromedaries unfit for +burden but able to cover a hundred miles in a day. The "King of +Timbukhtu" (not "Bukhtu's well" pop. Timbuctoo) had camels which reach +Segelmesse (Sijalmas) or Darha, nine hundred miles in eight days at +most. Lyon makes the Maherry (also called El-Heirie=Mahri) trot nine +miles an hour for a long time. Other travellers in North Africa report +the Sabayee (Saba'i=seven days weeder) as able to get over six hundred +and thirty miles (or thirty-five caravan stages=each eighteen miles) in +five to seven days. One of the dromedaries in the "hamlah" or caravan +of Mr. Ensor (Journey through Nubia and Darfoor—a charming book) +travelled one thousand one hundred and ten miles in twenty- seven days. +He notes that his beasts were better with water every five to seven +days, but in the cold season could do without drink for sixteen. I +found in Al-Hijaz at the end of August that the camels suffered much +after ninety hours without drink (Pilgrimage iii. 14). But these were +"Júdi" fine-haired animals as opposed to "Khawár" (the Khowás of +Chesney, p. 333), coarse-haired, heavy, slow brutes which will not +stand great heat. + +[FN#82] i.e. Fortune so willed it (euphemistically). + +[FN#83] The "minaret" being feminine is usually compared with a fair +young girl. The oldest minaret proper is supposed to have been built in +Damascus by the Ommiade Caliph (No. X.) Al-Walid A.H. 86-96 (=705-715). +According to Ainsworth (ii. 113) the second was at Kuch Hisar in +Chaldea. + +[FN#84] None of the pure Badawi can swim for the best of reasons, want +of waters. + +[FN#85] The baser sort of Badawi is never to be trusted: he is a +traitor born, and looks upon fair play as folly or cowardice. Neither +oath nor kindness can bind him: he unites the cruelty of the cat with +the wildness of the wolf. How many Englishmen have lost their lives by +not knowing these elementary truths! The race has not changed from the +days of Mandeville (A.D. 1322) whose "Arabians, who are called Bedouins +and Ascopards (?), are right felonious and foul, and of a cursed +nature." In his day they "carried but one shield and one spear, without +other arm :" now, unhappily for travellers, they have matchlocks and +most tribes can manufacture a something called by courtesy gunpowder. + +[FN#86] Thus by Arab custom they become friends. + +[FN#87] Our classical term for a noble Arab horse. + +[FN#88] In Arab. "Khayl" is=horse; Husan, a stallion; Hudúd, a brood +stallion; Faras, a mare (but sometimes used as a horse and meaning +"that tears over the ground"), Jiyád a steed (noble); Kadísh, a nag +(ignoble); Mohr a colt and Mohrah, a filly. There are dozens of other +names but these suffice for conversation + +[FN#89] Al-Katúl, the slayer; Al-Majnún, the mad; both high compliments +in the style inverted. + +[FN#90] This was a highly honourable exploit, which would bring the +doer fame as well as gain. + +[FN#91] This is a true and life-like description of horse- stealing in +the Desert: Antar and Burckhardt will confirm every word. A noble Arab +stallion is supposed to fight for his rider and to wake him at night if +he see any sign of danger. The owner generally sleeps under the belly +of the beast which keeps eyes and ears alert till dawn. + +[FN#92] Arab. "Yaum al tanádi," i.e. Resurrection-day. + +[FN#93] Arab. "Bilád al-Súdan"=the Land of the Blacks, negro- land, +whence the slaves came, a word now fatally familiar to English ears. +There are, however, two regions of the same name, the Eastern upon the +Upper Nile and the Western which contains the Niger Valley, and each +considers itself the Sudan. And the reader must not confound the Berber +of the Upper Nile, the Berderino who acts servant in Lower Egypt, with +the Berber of Barbary: the former speaks an African language; the +latter a "Semitic" (Arabic) tongue. + +[FN#94] "Him" for "her." + +[FN#95] Arab. "Sáibah," a she-camel freed from labour under certain +conditions amongst the pagan Arabs; for which see Sale (Prel. Disc. +sect. v.). + +[FN#96] Arab. "Marba'." In early spring the Badawi tribes leave the +Rasm or wintering-place (the Turco-Persian "Kishlák") in the desert, +where winter-rains supply them, and make for the Yaylák, or +summer-quarters, where they find grass and water. Thus the great Ruwala +tribe appears regularly every year on the eastern slopes of the +Anti-Libanus (Unexplored Syria, i. 117), and hence the frequent +"partings." + +[FN#97] This "renowning it" and boasting of one's tribe (and oneself) +before battle is as natural as the war-cry: both are intended to +frighten the foe and have often succeeded. Every classical reader knows +that the former practice dates from the earliest ages. It is still +customary in Arabia during the furious tribal fights, the duello on a +magnificent scale which often ends in half the combatants on either +side being placed hors-de- combat. A fair specimen of "renowning it" is +Amrú's Suspended Poem with its extravagant panegyric of the Taghlab +tribe (p. 64, "Arabian Poetry for English Readers," etc., by W. A. +Clouston, Glasgow: privately printed MDCCCLXXXI.; and transcribed from +Sir William Jones's translation). + +[FN#98] The "Turk" appeared soon amongst the Abbaside Caliphs. Mohammed +was made to prophecy of them under the title Banú Kantúrah, the latter +being a slave-girl of Abraham. The Imam Al- Shafi'i (A.H. 195=A.D. 810) +is said to have foretold their rule in Egypt where an Ottoman defended +him against a donkey-boy. (For details see Pilgrimage i. 216 ) The +Caliph Al-Mu'atasim bi'llah (A.D. 833-842) had more than 10,000 Turkish +slaves and was the first to entrust them with high office; so his Arab +subjects wrote of him:— + + A wretched Turk is thy heart's desire; + And to them thou showest thee dam and sire. + +His successor Al-Wásik (Vathek, of the terrible eyes) was the first to +appoint a Turk his Sultan or regent. After his reign they became +praetorians and led to the downfall of the Abbasides. + +[FN#99] The Persian saying is "First at the feast and last at the +fray." + +[FN#100] i.e. a tempter, a seducer. + +[FN#101] Arab. "Wayl-ak" here probably used in the sense of +"Wayh-ak" an expression of affectionate concern. + +[FN#102] Firdausi, the Homer of Persia, affects the same magnificent +exaggeration. The trampling of men and horses raises such a dust that +it takes one layer (of the seven) from earth and adds it to the (seven +of the) Heavens. The "blaze" on the stallion's forehead (Arab. +"Ghurrah") is the white gleam of the morning. + +[FN#103] A noted sign of excitement in the Arab blood horse, when the +tail looks like a panache covering the hind-quarter. + +[FN#104] i.e. Prince Kanmakan. + +[FN#105] The "quality of mercy" belongs to the noble Arab, whereas the +ignoble and the Bada win are rancorous and revengeful as camels. + +[FN#106] Arab. "Khanjar," the poison was let into the grooves and +hollows of the poniard. + +[FN#107] The Pers. "Bang", Indian "Bhang", Maroccan "Fasúkh" and S. +African "Dakhá." (Pilgrimage i. 64.) I heard of a "Hashish- orgie" in +London which ended in half the experimentalists being on their sofas +for a week. The drug is useful for stokers, having the curious property +of making men insensible to heat. Easterns also use it for "Imsák" +prolonging coition of which I speak presently. + +[FN#108] Arab. "Hashsháshín;" whence De Sacy derived "Assassin." A +notable effect of the Hashish preparation is wildly to excite the +imagination, a kind of delirium imaginans sive phantasticum . + +[FN#109] Meaning "Well done!" Mashallah (Má sháa 'llah) is an +exclamation of many uses, especially affected when praising man or +beast for fear lest flattering words induce the evil eye. + +[FN#110] Arab. "Kabkáb" vulg. "Kubkáb." They are between three and ten +inches high, and those using them for the first time in the slippery +Hammam must be careful. + +[FN#111] Arab. "Majlis"=sitting. The postures of coition, +ethnologically curious and interesting, are subjects so extensive that +they require a volume rather than a note. Full information can be found +in the Ananga-ranga, or Stage of the Bodiless One, a treatise in +Sanskrit verse vulgarly known as Koka Pandit from the supposed author, +a Wazir of the great Rajah Bhoj, or according to others, of the +Maharajah of Kanoj. Under the title Lizzat al-Nisá (The Pleasures—or +enjoying—of Women) it has been translated into all the languages of the +Moslem East, from Hindustani to Arabic. It divides postures into five +great divisions: (1) the woman lying supine, of which there are eleven +subdivisions; (2) lying on her side, right or left, with three +varieties; (3) sitting, which has ten, (4) standing, with three +subdivisions, and (5) lying prone, with two. This total of twenty- +nine, with three forms of "Purusháyit," when the man lies supine (see +the Abbot in Boccaccio i. 4), becomes thirty-two, approaching the +French quarante façons. The Upavishta, majlis, or sitting postures, +when one or both "sit at squat" somewhat like birds, appear utterly +impossible to Europeans who lack the pliability of the Eastern's limbs. +Their object in congress is to avoid tension of the muscles which would +shorten the period of enjoyment. In the text the woman lies supine and +the man sits at squat between her legs: it is a favourite from Marocco +to China. A literal translation of the Ananga range appeared in 1873 +under the name of Káma-Shástra; or the Hindoo Art of Love (Ars Amoris +Indica); but of this only six copies were printed. It was re-issued +(printed but not published) in 1885. The curious in such matters will +consult the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (London, privately printed, +1879) by Pisanus Fraxi (H. S. Ashbee). + +[FN#112] i.e. Le Roi Crotte. + +[FN#113] This seems to be a punning allusion to Baghdad, which in +Persian would mean the Garden (bágh) of Justice (dád). See +"Biographical Notices of Persian Poets" by Sir Gore Ouseley, +London, Oriental Translation Fund, 1846 + +[FN#114] The Kardoukhoi (Carduchi) of Xenophon; also called (Strabo +xv.) "Kárdakís, from a Persian word signifying manliness," which would +be "Kardak"=a doer (of derring do). They also named the Montes Gordći +the original Ararat of Xisisthrus- Noah's Ark. The Kurds are of Persian +race, speaking an old and barbarous Iranian tongue and often of the +Shi'ah sect. They are born bandits, highwaymen, cattle-lifters; yet +they have spread extensively over Syria and Egypt and have produced +some glorious men, witness Sultan Saláh al-Din (Saladin) the Great. +They claim affinity with the English in the East, because both races +always inhabit the highest grounds they can find. + +[FN#115] These irregular bands who belong to no tribe are the most +dangerous bandits in Arabia, especially upon the northern frontier. +Burckhardt, who suffered from them, gives a long account of their +treachery and utter absence of that Arab "pundonor" which is supposed +to characterise Arab thieves. + +[FN#116] An euphemistic form to avoid mentioning the incestuous +marriage. + +[FN#117] The Arab form of our "Kinchin lay." + +[FN#118] These are the signs of a Shaykh's tent. + +[FN#119] These questions, indiscreet in Europe, are the rule throughout +Arabia, as they were in the United States of the last generation. + +[FN#120] Arab. "Khizáb" a paste of quicklime and lamp-black kneaded +with linseed oil which turns the Henna to a dark olive. It is hideously +ugly to unaccustomed eyes and held to be remarkably beautiful in Egypt. + +[FN#121] i.e. the God of the Empyrean. + +[FN#122] A blow worthy of the Sa'alabah tribe to which he belonged. + +[FN#123] i.e. "benefits"; also the name of Mohammed's Mu'ezzin, or +crier to prayer, who is buried outside the Jábiah gate of Damascus. +Hence amongst Moslems, Abyssinians were preferred as mosque-criers in +the early ages of Al-Islam. Egypt chose blind men because they were +abundant and cheap; moreover they cannot take note of what is doing on +the adjoining roof terraces where women and children love to pass the +cool hours that begin and end the day. Stories are told of men who +counterfeited blindness for years in order to keep the employment. In +Moslem cities the stranger required to be careful how he appeared at a +window or on the gallery of a minaret: the people hate to be overlooked +and the whizzing of a bullet was the warning to be off. (Pilgrimage +iii. 185.) + +[FN#124] His instinct probably told him that this opponent was a low +fellow but such insults are common when "renowning it." + +[FN#125] Arab. "Dare' " or "Dira'," a habergeon, a coat of ring- mail, +sometimes worn in pairs. During the wretched "Sudan" campaigns much +naďve astonishment was expressed by the English Press to hear of +warriors armed cap-ŕ-pie in this armour like medieval knights. They did +not know that every great tribe has preserved, possibly from Crusading +times, a number of hauberks, even to hundreds. I have heard of only one +English traveller who had a mail jacket made by Wilkinson of Pall Mall, +imitating in this point Napoleon III. And (according to the +Banker-poet, Rogers) the Duke of Wellington. That of Napoleon is said +to have been made of platinum-wire, the work of a Pole who received his +money and an order to quit Paris. The late Sir Robert Clifton (they +say) tried its value with a Colt after placing it upon one of his +coat-models or mannequins. It is easy to make these hauberks +arrow-proof or sword-proof, even bullet-proof if Arab gunpowder be +used: but against a modern rifle-cone they are worse than worthless as +the fragments would be carried into the wound. The British serjeant was +right in saying that he would prefer to enter battle in his shirt: and +he might even doff that to advantage and return to the primitive custom +of man—gymnomachy. + +[FN#126] Arab. "Jamal" (by Badawin pronounced "Gamal" like the Hebrew) +is the generic term for "Camel" through the Gr. : "Ibl" is also +the camel-species but not so commonly used. "Hajín" is the dromedary +(in Egypt, "Dalúl" in Arabia), not the one- humped camel of the +zoologist (C. dromedarius) as opposed to the two-humped (C. +Bactrianus), but a running i.e. a riding camel. The feminine is Nákah +for like mules females are preferred. "Bakr" (masc.) and "Bakrah" +(fem.) are camel-colts. There are hosts of special names besides those +which are general. Mr. Censor is singular when he states (p.40) "the +male (of the camel) is much the safer animal to choose ;" and the +custom of t e universal Ease disproves his assertion. Mr. McCoan +("Egypt as it is") tells his readers that the Egyptian camel has two +humps, in fact, he describes the camel as it is not. + +[FN#127] So, in the Romance of Dalhamah (Zát al-Himmah, the heroine the +hero Al-Gundubah ("one locust-man") smites off the head of his mother's +servile murderer and cries, I have taken my blood-revenge upon this +traitor slave'" (Lane, M. E. chaps. xx iii.) + +[FN#128] This gathering all the persons upon the stage before the +curtain drops is highly artistic and improbable. + +[FN#129] He ought to have said his dawn prayers. + +[FN#130] Here begins what I hold to be the oldest subject matter in The +Nights, the apologues or fables proper; but I reserve further remarks +for the Terminal Essay. Lane has most objectionably thrown this and +sundry of the following stories into a note (vol. ii., pp. 53-69). + +[FN#131] In beast stories generally when man appears he shows to +disadvantage. + +[FN#132] Shakespeare's "stone bow" not Lane's "cross-bow" (ii. 53). + +[FN#133] The goad still used by the rascally Egyptian donkey-boy is a +sharp nail at the end of a stick; and claims the special attention of +societies for the protection of animals. + +[FN#134] "The most ungrateful of all voices surely is the voice of +asses" (Koran xxxi. 18); and hence the "braying of hell" (Koran +Ixvii.7). The vulgar still believe that the donkey brays when seeing +the Devil. "The last animal which entered the Ark with Noah was the Ass +to whose tail Iblis was clinging. At the threshold the ass seemed +troubled and could enter no further when Noah said to him:—"Fie upon +thee! come in." But as the ass was still troubled and did not advance +Noah cried:—"Come in, though the Devil be with thee!", so the ass +entered and with him Iblis. Thereupon Noah asked:—"O enemy of Allah who +brought thee into the Ark ?", and Iblis answered:—"Thou art the man, +for thou saidest to the ass, come in though the Devil be with thee!" +(Kitáb al-Unwán fi Makáid al-Niswán quoted by Lane ii. 54). + +[FN#135] Arab. "Rihl," a wooden saddle stuffed with straw and matting. +In Europe the ass might complain that his latter end is the sausage. In +England they say no man sees a dead donkey: I have seen dozens and, +unfortunately, my own. + +[FN#136] The English reader will not forget Sterne's old mare. Even +Al-Hariri, the prince of Arab rhetoricians, does not distain to use +"pepedit," the effect being put for the cause—terror. But Mr. Preston +(p. 285) and polite men translate by "fled in haste" the Arabic farted +for fear." + +[FN#137] This is one of the lucky signs and adds to the value of the +beast. There are some fifty of these marks, some of them (like a spiral +of hair in the breast which denotes that the rider is a cuckold) so +ill-omened that the animal can be bought for almost nothing. Of course +great attention is paid to colours, the best being the dark rich bay +("red" of Arabs) with black points, or the flea-bitten grey (termed +Azrak=blue or Akhzar=green) which whitens with age. The worst are dun, +cream coloured, piebald and black, which last are very rare. Yet +according to the Mishkát al- Masábih (Lane 2, 54) Mohammed said, The +best horses are black (dark brown?) with white blazes (Arab. "Ghurrah") +and upper lips; next, black with blaze and three white legs (bad, +because white- hoofs are brittle):next, bay with white blaze and white +fore and hind legs." He also said, "Prosperity is with sorrel horses;" +and praised a sorrel with white forehead and legs; but he dispraised +the "Shikál," which has white stockings (Arab. "Muhajjil") on alternate +hoofs (e.g. right hind and left fore). The curious reader will consult +Lady Anne Blunt's "Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates, with some Account +of the Arabs and their Horses" (1879); but he must remember that it +treats of the frontier tribes. The late Major Upton also left a book +"Gleanings from the Desert of Arabia" (1881); but it is a marvellous +production deriving e.g. Khayl (a horse generically) from Kohl or +antimony (p. 275). What the Editor was dreaming of I cannot imagine. I +have given some details concerning the Arab horse especially in +Al-Yaman, among the Zú Mohammed, the Zú Husayn and the Banu Yam in +Pilgrimage iii. 270. As late as Marco Polo's day they supplied the +Indian market via Aden; but the "Eye o Al-Yaman" has totally lost the +habit of exporting horses. + +[FN#138] The shovel-iron which is the only form of spur. + +[FN#139] Used for the dromedary: the baggage-camel is haltered. + +[FN#140] Arab. "Harwalah," the pas gymnastique affected when +circumambulating the Ka'abah (Pilgrimage iii. 208). + +[FN#141] "This night" would be our "last night": the Arabs, I repeat, +say "night and day," not "day and night." + +[FN#142] The vulgar belief is that man's fate is written upon his +skull, the sutures being the writing. + +[FN#143] Koran ii. 191. + +[FN#144] Arab. "Tasbíh"=saying, "Subhán' Allah." It also means a rosary +(Egypt. Sebhah for Subhah) a string of 99 beads divided by a longer +item into sets of three and much fingered by the would- appear pious. +The professional devotee carries a string of wooden balls the size of +pigeons' eggs. + +[FN#145] The pigeon is usually made to say, ' "Wahhidú Rabba-kumu +''llazi khalaka-kum, yaghfiru lakum zamba-kum" = "Unify (Assert the +Unity of) your Lord who created you; so shall He forgive your sin!" As +might be expected this "language" is differently interpreted. +Pigeon-superstitions are found in all religions and I have noted +(Pilgrimage iii, 218) how the Hindu deity of Destruction- reproduction, +the third Person of their Triad, Shiva and his Spouse (or active +Energy), are supposed to have dwelt at Meccah under the titles of +Kapoteshwara (Pigeon-god) and Kapoteshí (Pigeon-goddess). + +[FN#146] I have seen this absolute horror of women amongst the +Monks of the Coptic Convents. + +[FN#147] After the Day of Doom, when men's actions are registered, that +of mutual retaliation will follow and all creatures (brutes included) +will take vengeance on one another. + +[FN#148] The Comrades of the Cave, famous in the Middle Ages of +Christianity (Gibbon chaps. xxxiii.), is an article of faith with +Moslems, being part subject of chapter xviii., the Koranic Surah termed +the Cave. These Rip Van Winkle-tales begin with Endymion so famous +amongst the Classics and Epimenides of Crete who slept fifty-seven +years; and they extend to modern days as La Belle au Bois dormant. The +Seven Sleepers are as many youths of Ephesus (six royal councillors and +a shepherd, whose names are given on the authority of Ali); and, +accompanied by their dog, they fled the persecutions of Dakianús (the +Emperor Decius) to a cave near Tarsús in Natolia where they slept for +centuries. The Caliph Mu'awiyah when passing the cave sent into it some +explorers who were all killed by a burning wind. The number of the +sleepers remains uncertain, according to the Koran (ibid. v. 21) three, +five or seven and their sleep lasted either three hundred or three +hundred and nine years. The dog (ibid. v. 17) slept at the +cave-entrance with paws outstretched and, according to the general, was +called "Katmir" or "Kitmir;" but Al-Rakím (v. 8) is also applied to it +by some. Others hold this to be the name of the valley or mountain and +others of a stone or leaden tablet on which their names were engraved +by their countrymen who built a chapel on the spot (v. 20). Others +again make the Men of Al-Rakím distinct from the Cave-men, and believe +(with Bayzáwi) that they were three youths who were shut up in a grotto +by a rock-slip. Each prayed for help through the merits of some good +deed: when the first had adjured Allah the mountain cracked till light +appeared; at the second petition it split so that they saw one another +and after the third it opened. However that may be, Kitmir is one of +the seven favoured animals: the others being the Hudhud (hoopoe) of +Solomon (Koran xxii. 20); the she-camel of Sálih (chaps. Ixxxvii.); the +cow of Moses which named the Second Surah; the fish of Jonah; the +serpent of Eve, and the peacock of Paradise. For Koranic revelations of +the Cave see the late Thomas Chenery (p. 414 The Assemblies of +Al-Hariri: Williams and Norgate, 1870) who borrows from the historian +Tabari. + +[FN#149] These lines have occurred in Night cxlvi.: I quote Mr. +Payne by way of variety. + +[FN#150] The wolf (truly enough to nature) is the wicked man without +redeeming traits; the fox of Arab folk-lore is the cunning man who can +do good on occasion. Here the latter is called "Sa'alab" which may, I +have noted, mean the jackal; but further on "Father of a Fortlet" +refers especially to the fox. Herodotus refers to the gregarious Canis +Aureus when he describes Egyptian wolves as being "not much bigger than +foxes" (ii. 67). Canon Rawlinson, in his unhappy version, does not +perceive that the Halicarnassian means the jackal and blunders about +the hyena. + +[FN#151] The older "Leila" or "Leyla": it is a common name and is here +applied to woman in general. The root is evidently "layl"=nox, with, +probably, the idea, "She walks in beauty like the night." + +[FN#152] Arab. Abu 'l-Hosayn; his hole being his fort (Unexplored +Syria, ii. 18). + +[FN#153] A Koranic phrase often occurring. + +[FN#154] Koran v. 35. + +[FN#155] Arab. "Bází," Pers. "Báz" (here Richardson is wrong s.v.); a +term to a certain extent generic, but specially used for the noble +Peregrine (F. Peregrinator) whose tiercel is the Sháhín (or "Royal +Bird"). It is sometimes applied to the goshawk (Astur palumbarius) +whose proper title, however, is Shah-báz (King-hawk). The Peregrine +extends from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin and the best come from the +colder parts: in Iceland I found that the splendid white bird was +sometimes trapped for sending to India. In Egypt "Bazi" is applied to +the kite or buzzard and "Hidyah" (a kite) to the falcon (Burckhardt's +Prov. 159, 581 and 602). Burckhardt translates "Hidáyah," the Egyptian +corruption, by "an ash-grey falcon of the smaller species common +throughout Egypt and Syria." + +[FN#156] Arab. "Hijl," the bird is not much prized in India because it +feeds on the roads. For the Shinnár (caccabis) or magnificent partridge +of Midian as large as a pheasant, see "Midian Revisted" ii. 18. + +[FN#157] Arab. "Súf;" hence "Súfi,"=(etymologically) one who wears +woollen garments, a devotee, a Santon; from =wise; from +=pure, or from Safá=he was pure. This is not the place to enter upon +such a subject as "Tasawwuf," or Sufyism; that singular reaction from +arid Moslem realism and materialism, that immense development of +gnostic and Neo-platonic transcendentalism which is found only +germinating in the Jewish and Christian creeds. The poetry of +Omar-i-Khayyám, now familiar to English readers, is a fair specimen; +and the student will consult the last chapter of the Dabistan "On the +religion of the Sufiahs." The first Moslem Sufi was Abu Háshim of +Kufah, ob. A. H. 150=767, and the first Convent of Sufis called +"Takiyah" (Pilgrimage i. 124) was founded in Egypt by Saladin the +Great. + +[FN#158] i.e. when she encamps with a favourite for the night. + +[FN#159] The Persian proverb is "Marg-i-amboh jashni dáred"—death in a +crowd is as good as a feast. + +[FN#160] Arab. "Kanát", the subterranean water-course called in Persia +"Kyáriz." Lane (ii. 66) translates it "brandish around the spear (Kanát +is also a cane-lance) of artifice," thus making rank nonsense of the +line. Al-Hariri uses the term in the Ass. of the Banu Haram where +"Kanát" may be a pipe or bamboo laid underground. + +[FN#161] From Al-Tughrái, the author of the Lámiyat al-Ajam, the "Lay +of the Outlander;" a Kasidah (Ode) rhyming in Lám (the letter "l" being +the ráwi or binder). The student will find a new translation of it by +Mr. J. W. Redhouse and Dr. Carlyle's old version (No. liii.) in Mr. +Clouston's "Arabian Poetry." Muyid al-Din al-Hasan Abu Ismail nat. +Ispahan ob. Baghdad A.H. 182) derived his surname from the Tughrá, +cypher or flourish (over the "Bismillah" in royal and official papers) +containing the name of the prince. There is an older "Lamiyat al-Arab" +a pre-Islamitic L-poem by the "brigand-poet" Shanfara, of whom Mr. W. +G. Palgrave has given a most appreciative account in his "Essays on +Eastern Questions," noting the indomitable self-reliance and the +absolute individualism of a mind defying its age and all around it. +Al-Hariri quotes from both. + +[FN#162] The words of the unfortunate Azízah, vol. ii., p. 323. + +[FN#163] Arab. "Háwí"=a juggler who plays tricks with snakes: he is +mostly a Gypsy. The "recompense" the man expects is the golden treasure +which the ensorcelled snake is supposed to guard. This idea is as old +as the Dragon in the Garden of the Hesperides—and older. + +[FN#164] The "Father of going out (to prey) by morning"; for dawn is +called Zanab Sirhán the Persian Dum-i-gurg=wolf's tail, i.e. the first +brush of light; the Zodiacal Light shown in morning. Sirhán is a +nickname of the wolf—Gaunt Grim or Gaffer Grim, the German Isengrin or +Eisengrinus (icy grim or iron grim) whose wife is Hersent, as Richent +or Hermeline is Mrs. Fox. In French we have lopez, luppe, leu, e.g. + +Venant ŕ la queue, leu, leu, + +i.e. going in Indian file. Hence the names D'Urfé and Saint-Loup. In +Scandinavian, the elder sister of German, Ulf and in German (where the +Jews were forced to adopt the name) Wolff whence "Guelph." He is also +known to the Arabs as the "sire of a she-lamb," the figure metonymy +called "Kunyat bi 'l-Zidd" (lucus a non lucendo), a patronymic or +by-name given for opposition and another specimen of "inverted speech." + +[FN#165] Arab. "Bint' Arús" = daughter of the bridegroom, the +Hindustani Mungus (vulg. Mongoose); a well-known weasel-like rodent +often kept tame in the house to clear it of vermin. It is supposed to +know an antidote against snake-poison, as the weasel eats rue before +battle (Pliny x. 84; xx. 13). In Modern Egypt this viverra is called +"Kitt (or Katt) Far'aun" = Pharaoh's cat: so the Percnopter becomes +Pharaoh's hen and the unfortunate (?) King has named a host of things, +alive and dead. It was worshipped and mummified in parts of Ancient +Egypt e.g. Heracleopolis, on account of its antipathy to serpents and +because it was supposed to destroy the crocodile, a feat with Ćlian and +others have overloaded with fable. It has also a distinct antipathy to +cats. The ichneumon as a pet becomes too tame and will not leave its +master: when enraged it emits an offensive stench. I brought home for +the Zoological Gardens a Central African specimen prettily barred. +Burckhardt (Prov. 455) quotes a line:— + + Rakas' Ibn Irsin wa zamzama l-Nimsu, + (Danceth Ibn Irs whileas Nims doth sing) + +and explains Nims by ichneumon and Ibn Irs as a "species of small +weasel or ferret, very common in Egypt: it comes into the house, feeds +upon meat, is of gentle disposition although not domesticated and full +of gambols and frolic." + +[FN#166] Arab. "Sinnaur" (also meaning a prince). The common name is +Kitt which is pronounced Katt or Gatt; and which Ibn Dorayd pronounces +a foreign word (Syriac?). Hence, despite Freitag, Catus (which Isidore +derives from catare, to look for) = gatto, chat, cat, an animal unknown +to the Classics of Europe who used the mustela or putorius vulgaris and +different species of viverrć. The Egyptians, who kept the cat to +destroy vermin, especially snakes, called it Mau, Mai, Miao +(onomatopoetic): this descendent of the Felis maniculata originated in +Nubia; and we know from the mummy pits and Herodotus that it was the +same species as ours. The first portraits of the cat are on the +monuments of "Beni Hasan," B.C. 2500. I have ventured to derive the +familiar "Puss" from the Arab. "Biss (fem. :Bissah"), which is a +congener of Pasht (Diana), the cat-faced goddess of Bubastis +(Pi-Pasht), now Zagázig. Lastly, "tabby (brindled)-cat" is derived from +the Attábi (Prince Attab's) quarter at Baghdad where watered silks were +made. It is usually attributed to the Tibbie, Tibalt, Tybalt, Thibert +or Tybert (who is also executioner), various forms of Theobald in the +old Beast Epic; as opposed to Gilbert the gib-cat, either a tom-cat or +a gibbed (castrated) cat. + +[FN#167] Arab. "Ikhwán al-Safá," a popular term for virtuous friends +who perfectly love each other in all purity: it has also a mystic +meaning. Some translate it "Brethren of Sincerity," and hold this +brotherhood to be Moslem Freemasons, a mere fancy (see the Mesnevi of +Mr. Redhouse, Trubner 1881). There is a well-known Hindustani book of +this name printed by Prof. Forbes in Persian character and translated +by Platts and Eastwick. + +[FN#168] Among Eastern men there are especial forms for "making +brotherhood." The "Munhbolá-bhái" (mouth-named brother) of India is +well-known. The intense "associativeness" of these races renders +isolation terrible to them, and being defenceless in a wild state of +society has special horrors. Hence the origin of Caste for which see +Pilgrimage (i. 52). Moslems, however, cannot practise the African rite +of drinking a few drops of each other's blood. This, by the by, was +also affected in Europe, as we see in the Gesta Romanoru, Tale lxvii., +of the wise and foolish knights who "drew blood (to drink) from the +right arm." + +[FN#169] The F. Sacer in India is called "Laghar" and tiercel "Jaghar." +Mr. T.E. Jordan (catalogue of Indian Birds, 1839) says it is rare; but +I found it the contrary. According to Mr. R. Thompson it is flown at +kites and antelope: in Sind it is used upon night-heron (nyctardea +nycticorax), floriken or Hobara (Otis aurita), quail, partridge, curlew +and sometimes hare: it gives excellent sport with crows but requires to +be defended. Indian sportsmen, like ourselves, divide hawks into two +orders: the "Siyáh-chasm," or black-eyed birds, long-winged and noble; +the "Gulábi-chasm" or yellow-eyed (like the goshawk) round-winged and +ignoble. + +[FN#170] i.e. put themselves at thy mercy. + +[FN#171] I have remarked (Pilgrimage iii.307) that all the popular +ape-names in Arabic and Persian, Sa'adán, Maymún, Shádi, etc., express +propitiousness—probably euphemistically applied to our "poor relation." + +[FN#172] The serpent does not "sting" nor does it "bite;" it strikes +with the poison-teeth like a downward stab with a dagger. These fangs +are always drawn by the jugglers but they grow again and thus many +lives are lost. The popular way of extracting the crochets is to grasp +the snake firmly behind the neck with one hand and with the other to +tantalise it by offering and withdrawing a red rag. At last the animal +is allowed to strike it and a sharp jerk tears out both eye-teeth as +rustics used to do by slamming a door. The head is then held downwards +and the venom drains from its bag in the shape of a few drops of +slightly yellowish fluid which, as conjurers know, may be drunk without +danger. The patient looks faint and dazed, but recovers after a few +hours and feels as if nothing had happened. In India I took lessons +from a snake-charmer but soon gave up the practice as too dangerous. + +[FN#173] Arab. "Akh al-Jahálah" = brother of ignorance, an Ignorantin; +one "really and truly" ignorant; which is the value of "Ahk" in such +phrases as a "brother of poverty," or, "of purity." + +[FN#174] Lane (ii. 1) writes "Abu-l-Hasan;" Payne (iii. 49) "Aboulhusn" +which would mean "Father of Beauty (Husn)" and is not a Moslem name. +Hasan (beautiful) and its dimin. Husayn, names now so common, were (it +is said), unknown to the Arabs, although Hassán was that of a Tobba +King, before the days of Mohammed who so called his two only grandsons. +In Anglo-India they have become "Hobson and Jobson." The Bresl. Edit. +(ii. 305) entitles this story "Tale of Abu 'l Hasan the Attár (druggist +and perfumer) with Ali ibn Bakkár and what befel them with the handmaid +(=járiyah) Shams al-Nahár." + +[FN#175] i.e. a descendant, not a Prince. + +[FN#176] The Arab shop is a kind of hole in the wall and buyers sit +upon its outer edge (Pilgrimage i. 99). + +[FN#177] By a similar image the chamćleon is called Abú Kurrat=Father +of coolness; because it is said to have the "coldest" eye of all +animals and insensible to heat and light, since it always looks at the +sun. + +[FN#178] This dividing the hemistich words is characteristic of certain +tales; so I have retained it although inevitably suggesting:— + +I left Matilda at the U- niversity of Gottingen. + +[FN#179] These naďve offers in Eastern tales mostly come from the true +seducer—Eve. Europe and England especially, still talks endless +absurdity upon the subject. A man of the world may "seduce" an utterly +innocent (which means an ignorant) girl. But to "seduce" a married +woman! What a farce! + +[FN#180] Masculine again for feminine: the lines are as full of +word-plays, vulgarly called puns, as Sanskrit verses. + +[FN#181] The Eastern heroine always has a good appetite and eats well. +The sensible Oriental would infinitely despise that maladive Parisienne +in whom our neighbours delight, and whom I long to send to the +Hospital. + +[FN#182] i.e. her rivals have discovered the secret of her heart. + +[FN#183] i.e. blood as red as wine. + +[FN#184] The wine-cup (sun-like) shines in thy hand; thy teeth are +bright as the Pleiads and thy face rises like a moon from the darkness +of thy dress-collar. + +[FN#185] The masculine of Marjánah (Morgiana) "the she coral-branch ;" +and like this a name generally given to negroes. We have seen white +applied to a blackamoor by way of metonomy and red is also connected +with black skins by way of fun. A Persian verse says : + +"If a black wear red, e'en an ass would grin." + +[FN#186] Suggesting that she had been sleeping. + +[FN#187] Arab. "Raushan," a window projecting and latticed: the word is +orig. Persian: so Raushaná (splendour)=Roxana. It appears to me that +this beautiful name gains beauty by being understood. + +[FN#188] The word means any servant, but here becomes a proper name. +"Wasífah" usually= a concubine. + +[FN#189] i.e. eagerness, desire, love-longing. + +[FN#190] Arab. "Rind," which may mean willow (oriental), bay or aloes +wood: Al-Asma'i denies that it ever signifies myrtle. + +[FN#191] These lines occur in Night cxiv.: by way of variety I give +(with permission) Mr. Payne's version (iii. 59). + +[FN#192] Referring to the proverb "Al-Khauf maksúm"=fear (cowardice) is +equally apportioned: i.e. If I fear you, you fear me. + +[FN#193] The fingers of the right hand are struck upon the palm of the +left. + +[FN#194] There are intricate rules for "joining" the prayers; but this +is hardly the place for a subject discussed in all religious treatises. +(Pilgrimage iii. 239.) + +[FN#195] The hands being stained with Henna and perhaps indigo in +stripes are like the ring rows of chain armour. See Lane's illustration +(Mod. Egypt, chaps. i.). + +[FN#196] She made rose-water of her cheeks for my drink and she bit +with teeth like grains of hail those lips like the lotus-fruit, or +jujube: Arab. "Unnab" or "Nabk," the plum of the Sidr or Zizyphus +lotus. + +[FN#197] Meaning to let Patience run away like an untethered camel. + +[FN#198] i.e. her fair face shining through the black hair. "Camphor" +is a favourite with Arab poets: the Persians hate it because connected +in their minds with death; being used for purifying the corpse. We read +in Burckhardt (Prov. 464) "Singing without siller is like a corpse +without Hanút"—this being a mixture of camphor and rose-water sprinkled +over the face of the dead before shrouded. Similarly Persians avoid +speaking of coffee, because they drink it at funerals and use tea at +other times. + +[FN#199] i.e. she is angry and bites her carnelion lips with pearly +teeth. + +[FN#200] Arab. "Wa ba'ad;" the formula which follows "Bismillah"—In the +name of Allah. The French translate it or sus, etc. I have noticed the +legend about its having been first used by the eloquent Koss, Bishop of +Najran. + +[FN#201] i.e. Her mind is so troubled she cannot answer for what she +writes. + +[FN#202] The Bul. Edit. (i. 329) and the Mac. Edit. (i. 780) give to +Shams al-Nahar the greater part of Ali's answer, as is shown by the +Calc. Edit. (230 et seq.) and the Bresl. Edit. (ii. 366 et seq.) Lane +mentions this (ii. 74) but in his usual perfunctory way gives no +paginal references to the Calc. or Bresl.; so that those who would +verify the text may have the displeasure of hunting for it. + +[FN#203] Arab. "Bi'smi 'lláhi' r-Rahmáni'r-Rahím." This auspicatory +formula was borrowed by Al-Islam not from the Jews but from the Guebre +"Ba nám-i-Yezdán bakhsháishgar-i-dádár!" (in the name of +Yezdan-God—All-generous, All-just!). The Jews have, "In the name of the +Great God;" and the Christians, "In the name of the Father, etc." The +so-called Sir John Mandeville begins his book, In the name of God, +Glorious and Almighty. The sentence forms the first of the Koran and +heads every chapter except only the ninth, an exception for which +recondite reasons are adduced. Hence even in the present day it begins +all books, letters and writings in general; and it would be a sign of +Infidelity (i.e. non-Islamism) to omit it. The difference between +"Rahmán" and "Rahím" is that the former represents an accidental +(compassionating), the latter a constant quality (compassionate). Sale +therefore renders it very imperfectly by "In the name of the most +merciful God;" the Latinists better, "In nomine Dei misericordis, +clementissimi" (Gottwaldt in Hamza Ispahanensis); Mr. Badger much +better, "In the name of God, the Pitiful, the Compassionate"—whose only +fault is not preserving the assonance: and Maracci best, "In nomine Dei +miseratoris misericordis." + +[FN#204] Arab. Majnún (i.e. one possessed by a Jinni) the well-known +model lover of Layla, a fictitious personage for whom see D'Herbelot +(s. v. Megnoun). She was celebrated by Abu Mohammed Nizam al-Din of +Ganjah (ob. A.H. 597=1200) pop. known as Nizámi, the caustic and +austere poet who wrote:— + + The weals of this world are the ass's meed! + Would Nizami were of the ass's breed. + +The series in the East begins chronologically with Yúsuf and Zulaykhá +(Potiphar's wife) sung by Jámi (nat. A.H. 817=1414); the next in date +is Khusraw and Shirin (also by Nizami); Farhad and Shirin; and Layla +and Majnun (the Night-black maid and the Maniac-man) are the last. We +are obliged to compare the lovers with "Romeo and Juliet," having no +corresponding instances in modern days: the classics of Europe supply a +host as Hero and Leander, Theagenes and Charicleia, etc. etc. + +[FN#205] The jeweller of Eastern tales from Marocco to Calcutta, is +almost invariably a rascal: here we have an exception. + +[FN#206] This must not be understood of sealing-wax, which, however, is +of ancient date. The Egyptians (Herod. ii. 38) used "sealing earth" ( + ) probably clay, impressed with a signet ( ); the +Greeks mud-clay ( ); and the Romans first cretula and then wax +(Beckmann). Medićval Europe had bees-wax tempered with Venice +turpentine and coloured with cinnabar or similar material. The modern +sealing-wax, whose distinctive is shell-lac, was brought by the Dutch +from India to Europe; and the earliest seals date from about A.D. 1560. +They called it Ziegel-lak, whence the German Siegel-lack, the French +preferring cire-ŕ-cacheter, as distinguished from cire-ŕ-sceller, the +softer material. The use of sealing-wax in India dates from old times +and the material, though coarse and unsightly, is still preferred by +Anglo-Indians because it resists heat whereas the best English softens +like pitch. + +[FN#207] Evidently referring to the runaway Abu al-Hasan, not to the +she-Mercury. + +[FN#208] An unmarried man is not allowed to live in a respectable +quarter of a Moslem city unless he takes such precaution. Lane (Mod. +Egypt. passim) has much to say on this point; and my excellent friend +the late Professor Spitta at Cairo found the native prejudice very +troublesome. + +[FN#209] Arab. "Yá fulán"=O certain person (fulano in Span. and +Port.) a somewhat contemptuous address. + +[FN#210] Mr. Payne remarks, "These verses apparently relate to +Aboulhusn, but it is possible that they may be meant to refer to +Shemsennehar." (iii. 80.) + +[FN#211] Arab. and Pers "Bulúr" (vulg. billaur) retaining the venerable +tradition of the Belus- river. In Al-Hariri (Ass. of Halwán) it means +crystal and there is no need of proposing to translate it by onyx or to +identify it with the Greek , the beryl. + +[FN#212] The door is usually shut with a wooden bolt. + +[FN#213] Arab. "Ritánah," from "Ratan," speaking any tongue not +Arabic, the allusion being to foreign mercenaries, probably +Turks. In later days Turkish was called Muwalla', a pied horse, +from its mixture of languages. + +[FN#214] This is the rule; to guard against the guet-apens. + +[FN#215] Arab. "Wálidati," used when speaking to one not of the family +in lieu of the familiar "Ummi"=my mother. So the father is Wálid=the +begetter. + +[FN#216] This is one of the many euphemistic formulć for such +occasions: they usually begin "May thy head live." etc. + +[FN#217] Arab. "Kánún," an instrument not unlike the Austrian zither; +it is illustrated in Lane (ii. 77). + +[FN#218] This is often done, the merit of the act being transferred to +the soul of the deceased. + +[FN#219] The two amourists were martyrs; and their amours, which appear +exaggerated to the Western mind, have many parallels in the East. The +story is a hopeless affair of love; with only one moral (if any be +wanted) viz., there may be too much of a good thing. It is given very +concisely in the Bul. Edit. vol. i.; and more fully in the Mac. Edit. +aided in places by the Bresl. (ii. 320) and the Calc. (ii. 230). +## +[FN#220] Lane is in error (vol. ii. 78) when he corrects this to "Sháh +Zemán"; the name is fanciful and intended to be old Persian, on the +"weight" of Kahramán. The Bul. Edit. has by misprint "Shahramán." + +[FN#221] The "topothesia" is worthy of Shakespeare's day. "Khálidán" is +evidently a corruption of "Khálidatáni" (for Khálidát), the Eternal, as +Ibn Wardi calls the Fortunate Islands, or Canaries, which owe both +their modern names to the classics of Europe. Their present history +dates from A.D. 1385, unless we accept the Dieppe-Rouen legend of Labat +which would place the discovery in A.D. 1326. I for one thoroughly +believe in the priority on the West African Coast, of the gallant +descendants of the Northmen. + +[FN#222] Four wives are allowed by Moslem law and for this reason. If +you marry one wife she holds herself your equal, answers you and "gives +herself airs"; two are always quarrelling and making a hell of the +house; three are "no company" and two of them always combine against +the nicest to make her hours bitter. Four are company, they can quarrel +and "make it up" amongst themselves, and the husband enjoys comparative +peace. But the Moslem is bound by his law to deal equally with the +four, each must have her dresses her establishment and her night, like +her sister wives. The number is taken from the Jews (Arbah Turim Ev. +Hazaer, i.) "the wise men have given good advice that a man should not +marry more than four wives." Europeans, knowing that Moslem women are +cloistered and appear veiled in public, begin with believing them to be +mere articles of luxury, and only after long residence they find out +that nowhere has the sex so much real liberty and power as in the +Moslem East. They can possess property and will it away without the +husband's leave: they can absent themselves from the house for a month +without his having a right to complain; and they assist in all his +counsels for the best of reasons: a man can rely only on his wives and +children, being surrounded by rivals who hope to rise by his ruin. As +regards political matters the Circassian women of Constantinople really +rule the Sultanate and there soignez la femme! is the first lesson of +getting on in the official world. + +[FN#223] This two-bow prayer is common on the bride-night; and at all +times when issue is desired. + +[FN#224] The older Camaralzaman="Moon of the age." Kamar is the moon +between her third and twenty-sixth day: Hilál during the rest of the +month: Badr (plur. Budúr whence the name of the Princess) is the full +moon. + +[FN#225] Arab "Ra'áyá" plur. of 'Ra'íyat" our Anglo-Indian Ryot, lit. a +liege, a subject; secondarily a peasant, a Fellah. + +[FN#226] Another audacious parody of the Moslem "testification" to the +one God, and to Mohammed the Apostle. + +[FN#227] Showing how long ago forts were armed with metal plates which +we have applied to war-ships only of late years. + +[FN#228] The comparison is abominably true—in the East. + +[FN#229] Two fallen angels who taught men the art of magic. They are +mentioned in the Koran (chaps. ii.), and the commentators have +extensively embroidered the simple text. Popularly they are supposed to +be hanging by their feet in a well in the territory of Babel, hence the +frequent allusions to "Babylonian sorcery" in Moslem writings; and +those who would study the black art at head-quarters are supposed to go +there. They are counterparts of the Egyptian Jamnes and Mambres, the +Jannes and Jambres of St. Paul (2 Tim. iii. 8). + +[FN#230] An idol or idols of the Arabs (Allat and Ozza) before Mohammed +(Koran chaps. ii. 256). Etymologically the word means "error" and the +termination is rather Hebraic than Arabic. + +[FN#231] Arab. "Khayt hamayán" (wandering threads of vanity), or +Mukhát al-Shaytan (Satan's snivel),=our "gossamer"=God's summer +(Mutter Gottes Sommer) or God's cymar (?). + +[FN#232] These lines occur in Night xvii.; so I borrow from +Torrens (p. 163) by way of variety. + +[FN#233] A posture of peculiar submission; contrasting strongly with +the attitude afterwards assumed by Prince Charming. + +[FN#234] A mere term of vulgar abuse not reflecting on either parent: I +have heard a mother call her own son, "Child of adultery." + +[FN#235] Arab. "Ghazá," the Artemisia (Euphorbia ?) before noticed. If +the word be a misprint for Ghadá it means a kind of Euphorbia which, +with the Arák (wild caper-tree) and the Daum palm (Crucifera thebiaca), +is one of the three normal growths of the Arabian desert (Pilgrimage +iii. 22). + +[FN#236] Arab. "Banát al-Na'ash," usually translated daughters of the +bier, the three stars which represent the horses in either Bear, +"Charles' Wain," or Ursa Minor, the waggon being supposed to be a bier. +"Banát" may be also sons, plur. of Ibn, as the word points to +irrational objects. So Job (ix. 9 and xxxviii. 32) refers to U. Major +as "Ash" or "Aysh" in the words, "Canst thou guide the bier with its +sons?" (erroneously rendered "Arcturus with his sons") In the text the +lines are enigmatical, but apparently refer to a death parting. + +[FN#237] The Chapters are: 2, 3, 36, 55, 67 and the two last +("Daybreak" cxiii. and "Men" cxiv.), which are called Al-Mu'izzatáni +(vulgar Al-Mu'izzatayn), the "Two Refuge-takings or Preventives," +because they obviate enchantment. I have translated the two latter as +follows:— + +"Say:—Refuge I take with the Lord of the Day-break * + from mischief of what He did make * + from mischief of moon eclipse-showing * + and from mischief of witches on cord-knots blowing * + and from mischief of envier when envying." + +"Say:—Refuge I take with the Lord of men * + the sovran of men * + the God of men * + from the Tempter, the Demon * + who tempteth in whisper the breasts of men * + and from Jinnis and (evil) men." + +[FN#238] The recitations were Náfilah, or superogatory, two short +chapters only being required and the taking refuge was because he slept +in a ruin, a noted place in the East for Ghuls as in the West for +ghosts. + +[FN#239] Lane (ii. 222) first read "Múroozee" and referred it to the +Murúz tribe near Herat he afterwards (iii. 748) corrected it to +"Marwazee," of the fabric of Marw (Margiana) the place now famed for +"Mervousness." As a man of Rayy (Rhages) becomes Rází (e.g. Ibn Fáris +al-Razí), so a man of Marw is Marázi, not Murúzi nor Márwazi. The +"Mikna' " was a veil forming a kind of "respirator," defending from +flies by day and from mosquitos, dews and draughts by night. Easterns +are too sensible to sleep with bodies kept warm by bedding, and heads +bared to catch every blast. Our grandfathers and grandmothers did well +to wear bonnets-de-nuit, however ridiculous they may have looked. + +[FN#240] Iblis, meaning the Despairer, is called in the Koran (chaps. +xviii. 48) "One of the genii (Jinnis) who departed from the command of +his Lord." Mr. Rodwell (in loco) notes that the Satans and Jinnis +represent in the Koran (ii. 32, etc.) the evil-principle and finds an +admixture of the Semitic Satans and demons with the "Genii from the +Persian (Babylonian ?) and Indian (Egyptian ?) mythologies." + +[FN#241] Of course she could not see his eyes when they were shut; nor +is this mere Eastern inconsequence. The writer means, "had she seen +them, they would have showed," etc. + +[FN#242] The eyes are supposed to grow darker under the influence of +wine and sexual passion. + +[FN#243] To keep off the evil eye. + +[FN#244] Like Dahnash this is a fanciful P. N., fit only for a Jinni. +As a rule the appellatives of Moslem "genii" end inús (oos), as Tarnús, +Huliyánus, the Jewish in—nas, as Jattunas; those of the Tarsá (the +"funkers" i.e. Christians) in—dús, as Sidús, and the Hindus in—tús, as +Naktús (who entered the service of the Prophet Shays, or Seth, and was +converted to the Faith). The King of the Genii is Malik Katshán who +inhabits Mount Kaf; and to the west of him lives his son-in-law, Abd +al-Rahman with 33,000 domestics: these names were given by the Apostle +Mohammed. "Baktanús" is lord of three Moslem troops of the wandering +Jinns, which number a total of twelve bands and extend from Sind to +Europe. The Jinns, Divs, Peris ("fairies") and other pre-Adamitic +creatures were governed by seventy-two Sultans all known as Sulayman +and the last I have said was Ján bin Ján. The angel Háris was sent from +Heaven to chastise him, but in the pride of victory he also revolted +with his followers the Jinns whilst the Peris held aloof. When he +refused to bow down before Adam he and his chiefs were eternally +imprisoned but the other Jinns are allowed to range over earth as a +security for man's obedience. The text gives the three orders. flyers. +walkers and divers. + +[FN#245] i.e. distracted (with love); the Lakab, or poetical name, of +apparently a Spanish poet. + +[FN#246] Nothing is more "anti-pathetic" to Easterns than lean hips and +flat hinder-cheeks in women and they are right in insisting upon the +characteristic difference of the male and female figure. Our modern +sculptors and painters, whose study of the nude is usually most +perfunctory, have often scandalised me by the lank and greyhound-like +fining off of the frame, which thus becomes rather simian than human. + +[FN#247] The small fine foot is a favourite with Easterns as well as +Westerns. Ovid (A.A.) is not ashamed "ad teneros Oscula (not basia or +suavia) ferre pedes." Ariosto ends the august person in + + Il breve, asciutto, e ritondetto piece, + (The short-sized, clean-cut, roundly-moulded foot). + +And all the world over it is a sign of "blood," i.e. the fine nervous +temperament. + +[FN#248] i.e. "full moons": the French have corrupted it to +"Badoure"; we to "Badoura." winch is worse. + +[FN#249] As has been said a single drop of urine renders the clothes +ceremoniously impure, hence a Stone or a handful of earth must be used +after the manner of the torche-cul. Scrupulous Moslems, when squatting +to make water, will prod the ground before them with the point o f +stick or umbrella, so as to loosen it and prevent the spraying of the +urine. + +[FN#250] It is not generally known to Christians that Satan has a wife +called Awwá ("Hawwá" being the Moslem Eve) and, as Adam had three sons, +the Tempter has nine, viz., Zu 'l-baysun who rules in bazars. Wassin +who prevails in times of trouble. Awan who counsels kings; Haffan +patron of wine-bibbers; Marrah of musicians and dancers; Masbut of +news-spreaders (and newspapers ?); Dulhán who frequents places of +worship and interferes with devotion. Dasim, lord of mansions and +dinner tables, who prevents the Faithful saying "Bismillah" and +"Inshallah," as commanded in the Koran (xviii. 23), and Lakís, lord of +Fire worshippers (Herklots, chap. xxix. sect. 4). + +[FN#251] Strong perfumes, such as musk (which we Europeans dislike and +suspect), are always insisted upon in Eastern poetry, and Mohammed's +predilection for them is well known. Moreover the young and the +beautiful are held (justly enough) to exhale a natural fragrance which +is compared with that of the blessed in Paradise. Hence in the +Mu'allakah of Imr al-Keys:— + +Breathes the scent of musk when they rise to rove, * + As the Zephyr's breath with the flavour o'clove. + +It is made evident by dogs and other fine-nosed animals that every +human being has his, or her, peculiar scent which varies according to +age and health. Hence animals often detect the approach of death. + +[FN#252] Arab. "Kahlá." This has been explained. Mohammed is said to +have been born with "Kohl'd eyes." + +[FN#253] Hawá al-'uzrí, before noticed (Night cxiv.). + +[FN#254] These lines, with the Názir (eye or steward), the Hájib (Groom +of the Chambers or Chamberlain) and Joseph, are also repeated from +Night cxiv. For the Nazir see Al-Hariri (Nos. xiii. and xxii.) + +[FN#255] The usual allusion to the Húr (Houris) from "Hangar," the +white and black of the eye shining in contrast. The Persian Magi also +placed in their Heaven (Bihisht or Minu) "Huran," or black-eyed nymphs, +under the charge of the angel Zamiyád. + +[FN#256] In the first hemistich, "bi-shitt 'it wády" (by the +wady-bank): in the second, "wa shatta 'l wády" ("and my slayer"— i.e. +wády act. part. of wady, killing—"hath paced away"). + +[FN#257] The double entendre is from the proper names Budúr and Su'ád +(Beatrice) also meaning "auspicious (or blessed) full moons." + +[FN#258] Arab. "Házir" (also Ahl al-hazer, townsmen) and Bádi, a +Badawi, also called "Ahl al-Wabar," people of the camel's hair (tent) +and A'aráb (Nomadic) as opposed to Arab (Arab settled or not). They +still boast with Ibn Abbas, cousin of Mohammed, that they have +kerchiefs (not turbands) for crowns, tents for houses, loops for walls, +swords for scarves and poems for registers or written laws. + +[FN#259] This is a peculiarity of the Jinn tribe when wearing hideous +forms. It is also found in the Hindu Rakshasa. + +[FN#260] Which, by the by, are small and beautifully shaped. The animal +is very handy with them, as I learnt by experience when trying to +"Rareyfy" one at Bayrut. + +[FN#261] She being daughter of Al-Dimiryát, King of the Jinns. +Mr. W. F. Kirby has made him the subject of a pretty poem. + +[FN#262] These lines have occurred in Night xxii. I give +Torrens's version (p. 223) by way of variety. + +[FN#263] Arab. "Kámat Alfiyyah," like an Alif, the first of the Arabic +alphabet, the Heb. Aleph. The Arabs, I have said, took the flag or +water leaf form and departed very far from the Egyptian original (we +know from Plutarch that the hieroglyphic abecedarium began with "a"), +which was chosen by other imitators, namely the bull's head, and which +in the cursive form, especially the Phnician, became a yoke. In +numerals "Alif" denotes one or one thousand. It inherits the +traditional honours of Alpha (as opposed to Omega) and in books, +letters and writings generally it is placed as a monogram over the +"Bismillah," an additional testimony to the Unity. (See vol. i. p. 1.) +In medićval Christianity this place of honour was occupied by the +cross: none save the wildest countries have preserved it, but our +vocabulary still retains Criss' (Christ-)cross Row, for horn-book, on +account of the old alphabet and nine digits disposed in the form of a +Latin cross. Hence Tickell ("The Horn-book"): + + ——Mortals ne'er shall know + More than contained of old the Chris'-cross Row. + +[FN#264] The young man must have been a demon of chastity. + +[FN#265] Arab. "Kirát" from i.e. bean, the seed of the Abrus +precatorius, in weight=two to three (English) grains; and in length=one +finger-breadth here; 24 being the total. The Moslem system is evidently +borrowed from the Roman "as" and "uncia." + +[FN#266] Names of women. + +[FN#267] Arab. "Amsa" (lit. he passed the evening) like "asbaha" (he +rose in the morning) "Azhá" (he spent the forenoon) and "bata" (he +spent the night), are idiomatically used for "to be in any state, to +continue" without specification of time or season. + +[FN#268] Lit. "my liver ;" which viscus, and not the heart, is held the +seat of passion, a fancy dating from the oldest days. Theocritus says +of Hercules, "In his liver Love had fixed a wound" (Idyl. xiii.). In +the Anthologia "Cease, Love, to wound my liver and my heart" (lib. +vii.). So Horace (Odes, i. 2); his Latin Jecur and the Persian "Jigar" +being evident congeners. The idea was long prevalent and we find in +Shakespeare:— + + Alas, then Love may be called appetite, + No motion of the liver but the palate. + +[FN#269] A marvellous touch of nature, love ousting affection; the same +trait will appear in the lover and both illustrate the deep Italian +saying, "Amor discende, non ascende." The further it goes down the +stronger it becomes as of grand-parent for grand-child and vice versa. + +[FN#270] This tenet of the universal East is at once fact and unfact. +As a generalism asserting that women's passion is ten times greater +than man's (Pilgrimage, ii. 282), it is unfact. The world shows that +while women have more philoprogenitiveness, men have more amativeness; +otherwise the latter would not propose and would nurse the doll and +baby. Pact, however, in low-lying lands, like Persian Mazanderan versus +the Plateau; Indian Malabar compared with Marátha-land; California as +opposed to Utah and especially Egypt contrasted with Arabia. In these +hot damp climates the venereal requirements and reproductive powers of +the female greatly exceed those of the male; and hence the +dissoluteness of morals would be phenomenal, were it not obviated by +seclusion, the sabre and the revolver. In cold-dry or hot-dry +mountainous lands the reverse is the case; hence polygamy there +prevails whilst the low countries require polyandry in either form, +legal or illegal (i,e. prostitution) I have discussed this curious +point of "geographical morality" (for all morality is, like conscience, +both geographical and chronological), a subject so interesting to the +lawgiver, the student of ethics and the anthropologist, in "The City of +the Saints " But strange and unpleasant truths progress slowly, +especially in England. + +[FN#271] This morning evacuation is considered, in the East, a sine quâ +non of health; and old Anglo-Indians are unanimous in their opinion of +the "bard fajar" (as they mispronounce the dawn-clearance). The natives +of India, Hindús (pagans) and Hindís (Moslems), unlike Europeans, +accustom themselves to evacuate twice a day, evening as well as +morning. This may, perhaps, partly account for their mildness and +effeminacy; for:— + +C'est la constipation qui rend l'homme rigoureux. + +The English, since the first invasion of cholera, in October, 1831, are +a different race from their costive grandparents who could not dine +without a "dinner-pill." Curious to say the clyster is almost unknown +to the people of Hindostan although the barbarous West Africans use it +daily to "wash 'um belly," as the Bonney-men say. And, as Sonnini notes +to propose the process in Egypt under the Beys might have cost a +Frankish medico his life. + +[FN#272] The Egyptian author cannot refrain from this characteristic +polissonnerie; and reading it out is always followed by a roar of +laughter. Even serious writers like Al- Hariri do not, as I have noted, +despise the indecency. + +[FN#273] "'Long beard and little wits," is a saying throughout the East +where the Kausaj (= man with thin, short beard) is looked upon as +cunning and tricksy. There is a venerable Joe Miller about a +schoolmaster who, wishing to singe his long beard short, burnt it off +and his face to boot:—which reminded him of the saying. A thick beard +is defined as one which wholly conceals the skin; and in ceremonial +ablution it must be combed out with the fingers till the water reach +the roots. The Sunnat, or practice of the Prophet, was to wear the +beard not longer than one hand and two fingers' breadth. In Persian +"Kúseh" (thin beard) is an insulting term opposed to "Khush-rísh," a +well-bearded man. The Iranian growth is perhaps the finest in the +world, often extending to the waist; but it gives infinite trouble, +requiring, for instance, a bag when travelling. The Arab beard is often +composed of two tufts on the chin-sides and straggling hairs upon the +cheeks; and this is a severe mortification, especially to Shaykhs and +elders, who not only look upon the beard as one of man's +characteristics, but attach a religious importance to the appendage. +Hence the enormity of Kamar al-Zaman's behaviour. The Persian festival +of the vernal equinox was called Kusehnishín (Thin-beard sitting). An +old man with one eye paraded the streets on an ass with a crow in one +hand and a scourge and fan in the other, cooling himself, flogging the +bystanders and crying heat! heat! (garmá! garmá!). For other +particulars see Richardson (Dissertation, p. Iii.). This is the Italian +Giorno delle Vecchie, Thursday in Mid Lent, March 12 (1885), +celebrating the death of Winter and the birth of Spring. + +[FN#274] I quote Torrens (p. 400) as these lines have occurred in +Night xxxviii. + +[FN#275] Moslems have only two names for week days, Friday, +Al-Jum'ah or meeting-day, and Al-Sabt, Sabbath day, that is +Saturday. The others are known by numbers after Quaker fashion +with us, the usage of Portugal and Scandinavia. + +[FN#276] Our last night. + +[FN#277] Arab. "Tayf"=phantom, the nearest approach to our "ghost," +that queer remnant of Fetishism imbedded in Christianity; the +phantasma, the shade (not the soul) of tile dead. Hence the accurate +Niebuhr declares, "apparitions (i.e., of the departed) are unknown in +Arabia." Haunted houses are there tenanted by Ghuls, Jinns and a host +of supernatural creatures; but not by ghosts proper; and a man may live +years in Arabia before he ever hears of the "Tayf." With the Hindus it +is otherwise (Pilgrimage iii. 144). Yet the ghost, the embodied fear of +the dead and of death is common, in a greater or less degree, to all +peoples; and, as modern Spiritualism proves, that ghost is not yet +laid. + +[FN#278] Mr. Payne (iii. 133) omits the lines which are ŕpropos de rein +and read much like "nonsense verses." I retain them simply because they +are in the text. + +[FN#279] The first two couplets are the quatrain (or octave) in +Night xxxv. + +[FN#280] Arab. "Ar'ar," the Heb. "Aroer," which Luther and the A. +V. translate "heath." The modern Aramaic name is "Lizzáb" +(Unexplored Syria. i. 68). + +[FN#281] In the old version and the Bresl. Edit. (iii. 220) the +Princess beats the "Kahramánah," but does not kill her. + +[FN#282] 'This is still the popular Eastern treatment of the insane. + +[FN#283] Pers. "Marz-bán" = Warden of the Marches, Margrave. The +foster-brother in the East is held dear as, and often dearer than, kith +and kin. + +[FN#284] The moderns believe most in the dawn-dream. + —Quirinus + +Post mediam noctem visus, quum somnia vera. + (Horace Sat. i. 10, 33,) + +[FN#285] The Bresl. Edit. (iii. 223) and Galland have "Torf:" +Lane (ii. 115) "El-Tarf." + +[FN#286] Arab. "Maghzal ;" a more favourite comparison is with a tooth +pick. Both are used by Nizami and Al-Hariri, the most "elegant" of Arab +writers. + +[FN#287] These form a Kasídah, Ode or Elegy= rhymed couplets numbering +more than thirteen: If shorter it is called a "Ghazal." I have not +thought it necessary to preserve the monorhyme. + +[FN#288] Sulaymá dim. of Salmá= any beautiful woman Rabáb = the viol +mostly single stringed: Tan'oum=she who is soft and gentle. These +fictitious names are for his old flames. + +[FN#289] i.e. wine. The distich is highly fanciful and the conceits +would hardly occur to a + +[FN#290] Arab. "Andam," a term applied to Brazil-wood (also called +"Bakkam") and to "dragon's blood," but not, I think, to tragacanth, the +"goat's thorn," which does not dye. Andam is often mentioned in The +Nights. + +[FN#291] The superior merit of the first (explorer, etc.) is a lieu +commun with Arabs. So Al-Hariri in Preface quotes his predecessor:— + + Justly of praise the price I pay; + The praise is his who leads the way. + +[FN#292] There were two Lukmans, of whom more in a future page. + +[FN#293] This symbolic action is repeatedly mentioned in The +Nights. + +[FN#294] Arab. "Shakhs"=a person, primarily a dark spot. So +"Sawád"=blackness, in Al-Hariri means a group of people who darken the +ground by their shade. + +[FN#295] The first bath after sickness, I have said, is called +"Ghusl al-Sihhah,"—the Washing of Health. + +[FN#296] The words "malady" and "disease" are mostly avoided during +these dialogues as ill-omened words which may bring on a relapse. + +[FN#297] Solomon's carpet of green silk which carried him and all his +host through the air is a Talmudic legend generally accepted in +Al-Islam though not countenanced by the Koran. chaps xxvii. When the +"gnat's wing" is mentioned, the reference is to Nimrod who, for +boasting that he was lord of all, was tortured during four hundred +years by a gnat sent by Allah up his ear or nostril. + +[FN#298] The absolute want of morality and filial affection in the +chaste young man is supposed to be caused by the violence of his +passion, and he would be pardoned because he "loved much." + +[FN#299] I have noticed the geomantic process in my "History of Sindh" +(chaps. vii.). It is called "Zarb al-Ram!" (strike the sand, the French +say "frapper le sable") because the rudest form is to make on the +ground dots at haphazard, usually in four lines one above the other: +these are counted and, if even-numbered, two are taken ( ** ); if odd +one ( * ); and thus the four lines will form a scheme say * * * * +* * This is repeated three times, producing the same number of +figures; and then the combination is sought in an explanatory table or, +if the practitioner be expert, he pronounces off-hand. The Nights speak +of a "Takht Raml" or a board, like a schoolboy's slate, upon which the +dots are inked instead of points in sand. The moderns use a "Kura'h," +or oblong die, upon whose sides the dots, odd and even, are marked; and +these dice are hand-thrown to form the e figure. By way of complication +Geomancy is mixed up with astrology and then it becomes a most +complicated kind of ariolation and an endless study. "Napoleon's Book +of Fate," a chap-book which appeared some years ago, was Geomancy in +its simplest and most ignorant shape. For the rude African form see my +Mission to Dahome, i. 332, and for that of Darfour, pp. 360-69 of +Shaykh Mohammed's Voyage before quoted. + +[FN#300] Translators understand this of writing marriage contracts; I +take it in a more general sense. + +[FN#301] These lines are repeated from Night Ixxv.: with Mr. Payne's +permission I give his rendering (iii. 153) by way of variety. + +[FN#302] The comparison is characteristically Arab. + +[FN#303] Not her "face": the head, and especially the back of the head, +must always be kept covered, even before the father. + +[FN#304] Arab. "Siwák"=a tooth-stick; "Siwá-ka"=lit. other than thou. + +[FN#305] Arab. "Arák"=tooth stick of the wild caper-tree; "Ará-ka" +lit.=I see thee. The capparis spinosa is a common desert-growth and the +sticks about a span long (usually called Miswák), are sold in +quantities at Meccah after being dipped in Zemzem water. In India many +other woods are used, date-tree, Salvadora, Achyrantes, phyllanthus, +etc. Amongst Arabs peculiar efficacy accompanies the tooth-stick of +olive, "the tree springing from Mount Sinai" (Koran xxiii. 20); and +Mohammed would use no other, because it prevents decay and scents the +mouth. Hence Koran, chaps. xcv. 1. The "Miswák" is held with the unused +end between the ring-finger and minimus, the two others grasp the +middle and the thumb is pressed against the back close to the lips. +These articles have long been sold at the Medical Hall near the +"Egyptian Hall," Piccadilly. They are better than our unclean +tooth-brushes because each tooth gets its own especial rubbing' not a +general sweep; at the same time the operation is longer and more +troublesome. In parts of Africa as well as Asia many men walk about +with the tooth-stick hanging by a string from the neck. + +[FN#306] The "Mehari," of which the Algerine-French speak, are the +dromedaries bred by the Mahrah tribe of Al-Yaman, the descendants of +Mahrat ibn Haydan. They are covered by small wild camels (?) called +Al-Húsh, found between Oman and Al-Shihr: others explain the word to +mean "stallions of the Jinns " and term those savage and supernatural +animals, "Najáib al-Mahriyah"nobles of the Mahrah. + +[FN#307] Arab. "Khaznah"=a thousand purses; now about Ł5000. It denotes +a large sum of money, like the "Badrah," a purse containing 10,000 +dirhams of silver (Al-Hariri), or 80,000 (Burckhardt Prov. 380); +whereas the "Nisáb" is a moderate sum of money, gen. 20 gold dinars=200 +silver dirhams. + +[FN#308] As The Nights show, Arabs admire slender forms; but the hips +and hinder cheeks must be highly developed and the stomach fleshy +rather than lean. The reasons are obvious. The Persians who exaggerate +everything say e.g. (Husayn Váiz in the Anvár-i-Suhayli):— + + How paint her hips and waist ? Who saw + A mountain (Koh) dangling to a straw (káh)? + +In Antar his beloved Abla is a tamarisk (T. Orientalis). Others compare +with the palm-tree (Solomon), the Cypress (Persian, esp. Hafiz and +Firdausi) and the Arák or wild Capparis (Arab.). + +[FN#309] Ubi aves ibi angel). All African travellers know that a few +birds flying about the bush, and a few palm-trees waving in the wind, +denote the neighbourhood of a village or a camp (where angels are +scarce). The reason is not any friendship for man but because food, +animal and vegetable, is more plentiful Hence Albatrosses, Mother +Carey's (Mater Cara, the Virgin) chickens, and Cape pigeons follow +ships. + +[FN#310] The stanza is called Al-Mukhammas=cinquains; the quatrains and +the "bob," or "burden" always preserve the same consonance. It ends +with a Koranic lieu commun of Moslem morality. + +[FN#311] Moslem port towns usually have (or had) only two gates. Such +was the case with Bayrut, Tyre, Sidon and a host of others; the +faubourg-growth of modern days has made these obsolete. The portals +much resemble the entrances of old Norman castles—Arques for instance. +(Pilgrimage i. 185.) + +[FN#312] Arab. "Lisám"; before explained. + +[FN#313] i.e. Life of Souls (persons, etc.). + +[FN#314] Arab. "Insánu-há"=her (i.e. their) man: i.e. the babes of the +eyes: the Assyrian Ishon, dim. of Ish=Man; which the Hebrews call +"Bábat" or "Bit" (the daughter) the Arabs "Bubu (or Hadakat) al-Aye"; +the Persians "Mardumak-i-chashm" (mannikin of the eye); the Greeks +and the Latins pupa, pupula, pupilla. I have noted this in the Lyricks +of Camoens (p. 449). + +[FN#315] Ma'an bin Zá'idah, a soldier and statesman of the eighth +century. + +[FN#316] The mildness of the Caliph Mu'áwiyah, the founder of the +Ommiades, proverbial among the Arabs, much resembles the "meekness" of +Moses the Law-giver, which commentators seem to think has been foisted +into Numbers xii. 3. + +[FN#317] Showing that there had been no consummation of the marriage +which would have demanded "Ghusl," or total ablution, at home or in the +Hammam. + +[FN#318] I have noticed this notable desert-growth. + +[FN#319] 'The "situation" is admirable, solution appearing so difficult +and catastrophe imminent. + +[FN#320] This quatrain occurs in Night ix.: I have borrowed from +Torrens (p. 79) by way of variety. + +[FN#321] The belief that young pigeon's blood resembles the virginal +discharge is universal; but the blood most resembling man's is that of +the pig which in other points is so very human. In our day Arabs and +Hindus rarely submit to inspection the nuptial sheet as practiced by +the Israelites and Persians. The bride takes to bed a white kerchief +with which she staunches the blood and next morning the stains are +displayed in the Harem. In Darfour this is done by the bridegroom. +"Prima Venus debet esse cruenta," say the Easterns with much truth, and +they have no faith in our complaisant creed which allows the +hymen-membrane to disappear by any but one accident. + +[FN#322] Not meaning the two central divisions commanded by the +King and his Wazir. + +[FN#323] Ironicč. + +[FN#324] Arab. "Rasy"=praising in a funeral sermon. + +[FN#325] Arab. "Manáyá," plur. of "Maniyat" = death. Mr. R. S. Poole +(the Academy, April 26, 1879) reproaches Mr. Payne for confounding +"Muniyat" (desire) with "Maniyat" (death) but both are written the same +except when vowel-points are used. + +[FN#326] Arab. "Iddat," alluding to the months of celibacy which, +according to Moslem law, must be passed by a divorced woman before she +can re-marry. + +[FN#327] Arab. "Talák bi'l-Salásah"=a triple divorce which cannot be +revoked; nor can the divorcer re-marry the same woman till after +consummation with another husband. This subject will continually recur. + +[FN#328] An allusion to a custom of the pagan Arabs in the days of +ignorant Heathenism The blood or brain, soul or personality of the +murdered man formed a bird called Sady or Hámah (not the Humá or Humái, +usually translated "phnix") which sprang from the head, where four of +the five senses have their seat, and haunted his tomb, crying +continually, "Uskúni!"=Give me drink (of the slayer's blood) ! and +which disappeared only when the vendetta was accomplished. Mohammed +forbade the belief. Amongst the Southern Slavs the cuckoo is supposed +to be the sister of a murdered man ever calling or vengeance. + +[FN#329] To obtain a blessing and show how he valued it. + +[FN#330] Well-known tribes of proto-historic Arabs who flourished +before the time of Abraham: see Koran (chaps. xxvi. et passim). They +will be repeatedly mentioned in The Nights and notes. + +[FN#331] Arab. "Amtár"; plur. of "Matr," a large vessel of leather or +wood for water, etc. + +[FN#332] Arab. "Asáfírí," so called because they attract sparrows +(asáfír) a bird very fond of the ripe oily fruit. In the Romance of +"Antar" Asáfír camels are beasts that fly like birds in fleetness. The +reader must not confound the olives of the text with the hard unripe +berries ("little plums pickled in stale") which appear at English +tables, nor wonder that bread and olives are the beef-steak and +potatoes of many Mediterranean peoples It is an excellent diet, the +highly oleaginous fruit supplying the necessary carbon, + +[FN#333] Arab. "Tamer al-Hindi"=the "Indian-date," whence our word +"Tamarind." A sherbet of the pods, being slightly laxative, is much +drunk during the great heats; and the dried fruit, made into small +round cakes, is sold in the bazars. The traveller is advised not to +sleep under the tamarind's shade, which is infamous for causing ague +and fever. In Sind I derided the "native nonsense," passed the night +under an "Indian date-tree" and awoke with a fine specimen of ague +which lasted me a week. + +[FN#334] Moslems are not agreed upon the length of the Day of Doom when +all created things, marshalled by the angels, await final judgment; the +different periods named are 40 years, 70, 300 and 50,000. Yet the trial +itself will last no longer than while one may milk an ewe, or than "the +space between two milkings of a she-camel." This is bringing down +Heaven to Earth with a witness; but, after all, the Heaven of all +faiths, including "Spiritualism," the latest development, is only an +earth more or less glorified even as the Deity is humanity more or less +perfected. + +[FN#335] Arab. "Al-Kamaráni," lit. "the two moons." Arab rhetoric +prefers it to "Shamsáni," or {`two suns," because lighter (akhaff), to +pronounce. So, albeit Omar was less worthy than Abu-Bakr the two are +called "Al-Omaráni," in vulgar parlance, Omarayn. + +[FN#336] Alluding to the angels who appeared to the Sodomites in the +shape of beautiful youths (Koran xi.). + +[FN#337] Koran xxxiii. 38. + +[FN#338] "Niktu-hu taklidan" i.e. not the real thing (with a woman). It +may also mean "by his incitement of me." All this scene is written in +the worst form of Persian-Egyptian blackguardism, and forms a curious +anthropological study. The "black joke" of the true and modest wife is +inimitable. + +[FN#339] Arab. "Jamíz" (in Egypt "Jammayz") = the fruit of the true +sycomore (F. Sycomorus) a magnificent tree which produces a small +tasteless fig, eaten by the poorer classes in Egypt and by monkeys. The +"Tín" or real fig here is the woman's parts; the "mulberry- fig," the +anus. Martial (i. 65) makes the following distinction:— + + Dicemus ficus, quas scimus in arbore nasci, + Dicemus ficos, Caeciliane, tuos. + +And Modern Italian preserves a difference between fico and fica. + +[FN#340] Arab. "Ghániyat Azárá" (plur. of Azrá = virgin): the former is +properly a woman who despises ornaments and relies on "beauty +unadorned" (i.e. in bed). + +[FN#341] "Nihil usitatius apud monachos, cardinales, sacrificulos," +says Johannes de la Casa Beneventius Episcopus, quoted by Burton Anat. +of Mel. lib. iii. Sect. 2; and the famous epitaph on the Jesuit, + + Ci-git un Jesuite: + Passant, serre les fesses et passe vite! + +[FN#342] Arab. "Kiblah"=the fronting-place of prayer, Meccah for +Moslems, Jerusalem for Jews and early Christians. See Pilgrimage (ii. +321) for the Moslem change from Jerusalem to Meccah and ibid. (ii. 213) +for the way in which the direction was shown. + +[FN#343] The Koran says (chaps. ii.): "Your wives are your tillage: go +in therefore unto your tillage in what manner so ever ye will." Usually +this is understood as meaning in any posture, standing or sitting, +lying, backwards or forwards. Yet there is a popular saying about the +man whom the woman rides (vulg. St. George, in France, le Postillon); +"Cursed be who maketh woman Heaven and himself earth!" Some hold the +Koranic passage to have been revealed in confutation of the Jews, who +pretended that if a man lay with his wife backwards, he would beget a +cleverer child. Others again understand it of preposterous venery, +which is absurd: every ancient law-giver framed his code to increase +the true wealth of the people—population—and severely punished all +processes, like onanism, which impeded it. The Persians utilise the +hatred of women for such misuse when they would force a wive to demand +a divorce and thus forfeit her claim to Mahr (dowry); they convert them +into catamites till, after a month or so, they lose all patience and +leave the house. + +[FN#344] Koran lit 9: "He will be turned aside from the Faith (or +Truth) who shall be turned aside by the Divine decree;" alluding, in +the text, to the preposterous venery her lover demands. + +[FN#345] Arab. "Futúh" meaning openings, and also victories, benefits. +The lover congratulates her on her mortifying self in order to please +him. + +[FN#346] "And the righteous work will be exalt": (Koran xxxv. 11) +applied ironically. + +[FN#347] A prolepsis of Tommy Moore:— + + Your mother says, my little Venus, + There's something not quite right between us, + And you're in fault as much as I, + Now, on my soul, my little Venus, + I swear 'twould not be right between us, + To let your mother tell a lie. + +But the Arab is more moral than Mr. Little. as he purposes to repent. + +[FN#348] Arab. "Khunsa" flexible or flaccid, from Khans=bending +inwards, i.e. the mouth of a water-skin before drinking. Like +Mukhannas, it is also used for an effeminate man, a passive sodomite +and even for a eunuch. Easterns still believe in what Westerns know to +be an impossibility, human beings with the parts and proportions of +both sexes equally developed and capable of reproduction; and Al-Islam +even provides special rules for them (Pilgrimage iii. 237). We hold +them to be Buffon's fourth class of (duplicate) monsters belonging +essentially to one or the other sex, and related to its opposite only +by some few characteristics. The old Greeks dreamed, after their +fashion, a beautiful poetic dream of a human animal uniting the +contradictory beauties of man and woman. The duality of the generative +organs seems an old Egyptian tradition, at least we find it in Genesis +(i. 27) where the image of the Deity is created male and female, before +man was formed out of the dust of the ground (ii. 7). The old tradition +found its way to India (if the Hindus did not borrow the idea from the +Greeks); and one of the forms of Mahadeva, the third person of their +triad, is entitled "Ardhanárí"=the Half-woman, which has suggested to +them some charming pictures. Europeans, seeing the left breast +conspicuously feminine, have indulged in silly surmises about the +"Amazons." + +[FN#349] This is a mere phrase for our "dying of laughter": the queen +was on her back. And as Easterns sit on carpets, their falling back is +very different from the same movement off a chair. + +[FN#350] Arab. "Ismid," the eye-powder before noticed. + +[FN#351] When the Caliph (e.g. Al-Tá'i li'llah) bound a banner to a +spear and handed it to an officer, he thereby appointed him Sultan or +Viceregent. + +[FN#352] Arab. "Sháib al-ingház"=lit. a gray beard who shakes head in +disapproval. + +[FN#353] Arab. "Ayát" = the Hebr. "Ototh," signs, wonders or +Koranic verses. + +[FN#354] The Chapter "Al-Ikhlás" i.e. clearing (oneself from any faith +but that of Unity) is No. cxii. and runs thus:— + + Say, He is the One God! + The sempiternal God, + He begetteth not, nor is He begot, + And unto Him the like is not. + +It is held to be equal in value to one-third of the Koran, and is daily +used in prayer. Mr. Rodwell makes it the tenth. + +[FN#355] The Lady Budur shows her noble blood by not objecting to her +friend becoming her Zarrat (sister-wife). This word is popularly +derived from "Zarar"=injury; and is vulgarly pronounced in Egypt +"Durrah" sounding like Durrah = a parrot (see Burckhardt's mistake in +Prov. 314). The native proverb says, "Ayshat al-durrah murrah," the +sister-wife hath a bitter life. We have no English equivalent; so I +translate indifferently co-wife, co-consort, sister-wife or sister in +wedlock. + +[FN#356] Lane preserves the article "El-Amjad" and "El-As'ad;" which is +as necessary as to say "the John" or "the James," because neo-Latins +have "il Giovanni" or "il Giacomo." In this matter of the article, +however, it is impossible to lay down a universal rule: in some cases +it must be preserved and only practice in the language can teach its +use. For instance, it is always present in Al-Bahrayn and al-Yaman; but +not necessarily so with Irak and Najd. + +[FN#357] It is hard to say why this ugly episode was introduced. +It is a mere false note in a tune pretty enough. + +[FN#358] The significance of this action will presently appear. + +[FN#359] An "Hadís." + +[FN#360] Arab. "Sabb" = using the lowest language of abuse. chiefly +concerning women-relatives and their reproductive parts. + +[FN#361] The reader will note in the narration concerning the two +Queens the parallelism of the Arab's style which recalls that of the +Hebrew poets. Strings of black silk are plaited into the long locks (an +"idiot-fringe" being worn over the brow) because a woman is cursed "who +joineth her own hair to the hair of another" (especially human hair). +Sending the bands is a sign of affectionate submission; and, in +extremes" cases the hair itself is sent. + +[FN#362] i.e., suffer similar pain at the spectacle, a phrase often +occurring. + +[FN#363] i.e., when the eye sees not, the heart grieves not. + +[FN#364] i.e., unto Him we shall return, a sentence recurring in almost +every longer chapter of the Koran. + +[FN#365] Arab. "Kun," the creative Word (which, by the by, proves the +Koran to be an uncreated Logos); the full sentence being "Kun fa kána" += Be! and it became. The origin is evidently, "And God said, Let there +be light: and there was light" (Gen. i. 3); a line grand in its +simplicity and evidently borrowed from the Egyptians, even as Yahveh +(Jehovah) from "Ankh"=He who lives (Brugsch Hist. ii. 34). + +[FN#366] i.e. but also for the life and the so-called "soul." + +[FN#367] Arab. "Layáli"=lit. nights which, I have said, is often +applied to the whole twenty-four hours. Here it is used in the sense of +"fortune" or "fate ;" like "days" and "days and nights." + +[FN#368] Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr a nephew of Ayishah, who had rebuilt +the Ka'abah in A.H. 64 (A.D. 683), revolted (A.D. 680) against Yezid +and was proclaimed Caliph at Meccah. He was afterwards killed (A.D. +692) by the famous or infamous Hajjáj general of Abd al-Malik bin +Marwan, the fifth Ommiade, surnamed "Sweat of a stone" (skin-flint) and +"Father of Flies," from his foul breath. See my Pilgrimage, etc. (iii. +192-194), where are explained the allusions to the Ka'abah and the holy +Black Stone. + +[FN#369] These lines are part of an elegy on the downfall of one of the +Moslem dynasties in Spain, composed in the twelfth century by Ibn Abdun +al-Andalúsi. The allusion is to the famous conspiracy of the Khárijites +(the first sectarians in Mohammedanism) to kill Ah, Mu'awiyah and Amru +(so written but pronounced "Amr") al-As, in order to abate intestine +feuds m Al-Islam. Ali was slain with a sword-cut by Ibn Muljam a name +ever damnable amongst the Persians; Mu'awiyah escaped with a wound and +Kharijah, the Chief of Police at Fustat or old Cairo was murdered by +mistake for Amru. After this the sectarian wars began. + +[FN#370] Arab. "Saráb"= (Koran, chaps. xxiv.) the reek of the Desert, +before explained. It is called "Lama," the shine, the loom, in +Al-Hariri. The world is compared with the mirage, the painted eye and +the sword that breaks in the sworder's hand. + +[FN#371] Arab. "Dunyá," with the common alliteration "dániyah" (=Pers. +"dún"), in prose as well as poetry means the things or fortune of this +life opp. to "Akhirah"=future life. + +[FN#372] Arab. "Walgh," a strong expression primarily denoting the +lapping of dogs; here and elsewhere "to swill, saufen." + +[FN#373] The lines are repeated from Night ccxxi. I give Lane's version +(ii. 162) by way of contrast and—warning. + +[FN#374] "Sáhirah" is the place where human souls will be gathered on +Doom-day: some understand by it the Hell Sa'ír (No. iv.) intended for +the Sabians or the Devils generally. + +[FN#375] His eyes are faded like Jacob's which, after weeping for +Joseph, "became white with mourning" (Koran, chaps. xxi.). It is a +stock comparison. + +[FN#376] The grave. + +[FN#377] Arab. "Sawwán" (popularly pronounced Suwán) ="Syenite" from +Syrene; generally applied to silex, granite or any hard stone. + +[FN#378] A proceeding fit only for thieves and paupers: "Alpinism" was +then unknown. "You come from the mountain" (al-Jabal) means, "You are a +clod-hopper"; and "I will sit upon the mountain"=turn anchorite or +magician. (Pilgrimage i. 106.) + +[FN#379] Corresponding with wayside chapels in Catholic countries. The +Moslem form would be either a wall with a prayer niche (Mibráb) +fronting Meccah-wards or a small domed room. These little oratories are +often found near fountains, streams or tree-clumps where travellers +would be likely to alight. I have described one in Sind ("Scinde or the +Unhappy Valley" i. 79), and have noted that scrawling on the walls is +even more common in the East than in the West; witness the monuments of +old Egypt bescribbled by the Greeks and Romans. Even the paws of the +Sphinx are covered with such graffiti; and those of Ipsambul or Abu +Símbal have proved treasures to epigraphists. + +[FN#380] In tales this characterises a Persian; and Hero Rustam is +always so pictured. + +[FN#381] The Parsis, who are the representatives of the old Guebres, +turn towards the sun and the fire as their Kiblah or point of prayer; +all deny that they worship it. But, as in the case of saints' images, +while the educated would pray before them for edification (Labia) the +ignorant would adore them (Dulia); and would make scanty difference +between the "reverence of a servant" and the "reverence of a slave." +The human sacrifice was quite contrary to Guebre, although not to +Hindu, custom; although hate and vengeance might prompt an occasional +murder. + +[FN#382] These oubliettes are common in old eastern houses as in the +medieval Castles of Europe, and many a stranger has met his death in +them. They are often so well concealed that even the modern inmates are +not aware of their existence. + +[FN#383] Arab. "Bakk"; hence our "bug" whose derivation (like that of +"cat" "dog" and "hog") is apparently unknown to the dictionaries, +always excepting M. Littré's. + +[FN#384] i.e. thy beauty is ever increasing. + +[FN#385] Alluding, as usual, to the eye-lashes, e.g. + +An eyelash arrow from an eyebrow bow. + +[FN#386] Lane (ii. 168) reads:—"The niggardly female is protected by +her niggardness;" a change of "Nahílah" (bee-hive) into "Bakhílah" (she +skin flint). + +[FN#387] Koran iv. 38. The advantages are bodily strength, +understanding and the high privilege of Holy War. Thus far, and thus +far only, woman amongst Moslems is "lesser + +[FN#388] Arab. "Amir Yákhúr," a corruption of "Akhor"=stable +(Persian). + +[FN#389] A servile name in Persian, meaning "the brave," and a title of +honour at the Court of Delhi when following the name. Many English +officers have made themselves ridiculous (myself amongst the number) by +having it engraved on their seal-rings, e.g. Brown Sáhib Bahádur. To +write the word "Behadir" or "Bahádir" is to adopt the wretched Turkish +corruption. + +[FN#390] "Jerry Sneak" would be the English reader's comment; but in +the East all charges are laid upon women. + +[FN#391] Here the formula means "I am sorry for it, but I couldn't help +it." + +[FN#392] A noble name of the Persian Kings (meaning the planet +Mars) corrupted in Europe to Varanes. + +[FN#393] Arab. "Jalláb," one of the three muharramát or forbiddens, the +Hárik al-hajar (burner of stone) the Káti' al-shajar (cutter of trees, +without reference to Hawarden N. B.) and the Báyi' al-bashar (seller of +men, vulg. Jalláb). The two former worked, like the Italian Carbonari, +in desert places where they had especial opportunities for crime. +(Pilgrimage iii. 140.) None of these things must be practiced during +Pilgrimage on the holy soil of Al-Hijaz—not including Jeddah. + +[FN#394] The verses contain the tenets of the Murjiy sect which +attaches infinite importance to faith and little or none to works. Sale +(sect. viii.) derives his "Morgians" from the "Jabrians" (Jabari), who +are the direct opponents of the "Kadarians" (Kadari), denying free will +and free agency to man and ascribing his actions wholly to Allah. Lane +(ii. 243) gives the orthodox answer to the heretical question:— + +Water could wet him not if God please guard His own; * + Nor need man care though bound of hands in sea he's thrown: +But if His Lord decree that he in sea be drowned; * + He'll drown albeit in the wild and wold he wone. + +It is the old quarrel between Predestination and Freewill which cannot +be solved except by assuming a Law without a Lawgiver. + +[FN#395] Our proverb says: Give a man luck and throw him into the sea. + +[FN#396] As a rule Easterns, I repeat, cover head and face when +sleeping especially in the open air and moonlight. Europeans find the +practice difficult, and can learn it only by long habit. + +[FN#397] Pers. = a flower-garden. In Galland, Bahram has two daughters, +Bostama and Cavam a. In the Bres. Edit. the daughter is "Bostan" and +the slave-girl "Kawám." + +[FN#398] Arab. "Kahíl"=eyes which look as if darkened with antimony: +hence the name of the noble Arab breed of horses "Kuhaylat" (Al-Ajuz, +etc.). + +[FN#399] "As'ad"=more (or most) fortunate. + +[FN#400] This is the vulgar belief, although Mohammed expressly +disclaimed the power in the Koran (chaps. xiii. 8), "Thou art +commissioned to be a preacher only and not a worker of miracles." +"Signs" (Arab. Ayát) may here also mean verses of the Koran, which the +Apostle of Allah held to be his standing miracles. He despised the +common miracula which in the East are of everyday occurrence and are +held to be easy for any holy man. Hume does not believe in miracles +because he never saw one. Had he travelled in the East he would have +seen (and heard of) so many that his scepticism (more likely that +testimony should be false than miracles be true) would have been based +on a firmer foundation. It is one of the marvels of our age that whilst +two-thirds of Christendom (the Catholics and the "Orthodox" Greeks) +believe in "miracles" occurring not only in ancient but even in our +present days, the influential and intelligent third (Protestant) +absolutely "denies the fact." + +[FN#401] Arab. "Al-Shahádatáni"; testifying the Unity and the + +Apostleship. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 3, by Richard F. Burton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 3437-0.txt or 3437-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/3/3437/ + +This etext was produced by J.C. Byers. Proofreaders were: J.C. 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